Religion is not an excuse to limit the rights of others. That’s it. It’s not that complicated. It’s hard to comprehend that still after centuries and centuries of nations trying to mold people into what a few specific men wanted them to be, people are still trying to do it.
Why is it so hard for some to relinquish control of people they never had the right to control in the first place? Because they’re so afraid the viewpoints different from theirs will do the exact same thing that they are doing in the first place?
I am a Christian and although I personally do not believe that we have the power to, for example, create laws to inhibit the rights of others, I understand some Christians and other religions still shun homosexuality. My argument for those people is simply that if they believe that that part of who those people are is a sin, then what about the millions of sins you willingly choose to commit every day? Though that is a whole longer testament, there’s no need to expand on it here.
My point being that just because your religious beliefs cause you to shun or accept some things, what on earth would cause you to think you have the power over other people to force those same beliefs on them? I’m all for sharing religious beliefs with others and hoping to spread the gospel with new people, etc. I am not, however, for shoving it down throats because that never works anyway??
I don’t see how any one person can think they have the authority (God-given or not) to control or in light of recent events exterminate those they do not agree with. To how the nazis thought they were superior enough to dehumanize and control the Jews, Poles, homosexuals, Romi, and mentally disabled. How one man could kill a woman because he couldn't have her for himself. How one man thought he had the right to murder dozens of people because their sexuality may have been different from his. Perhaps those who do think so have more psychological issues that need to be addressed, but there are still people controlling the rights of others when they do not have the authority to do so.
There are still middle-aged white men trying to control millions of uteruses across the country. There are still religious leaders who genuinely think they have the job to tell a person that who they are is wrong solely because they think so. I think brussel sprouts are bad and terrible, so with that logic should I devote myself towards limiting people’s access to them, or go after the people who like them? This may sound like a ridiculous comparison, but it is not. Certain things I believe may be super important to me and not as important to other people, and vice versa.
Other people’s choices to love who they want to love, worship who they want to worship, or do with their body what they want to does not affect you. If you are religious, I’m pretty sure almost every religion encourages love. Discrimination and fighting against people is not love. Even if you are not religious, we are all humans and no one has a greater opinion that allows them to inhibit others. You can disagree with someone’s beliefs and choices all you want, but if they aren’t hurting you and are just doing what they can to be happy in this world, then overwhelm them with nothing but love and acceptance.
