About one year ago I decided to take action and speak out on issues that are dividing the Republican Party.  The Party I have always voted for and believed in on most issues has been brought to its knees by fundamentalist religion.   I thought talking to my religious friends and emphasizing that the real values of conservative politics…..freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans….would be a piece of cake!  Not so fast….

I see no evidence that anyone is an expert about the subject of God, but I do respect the precious freedom to choose our beliefs and believe liberal democracy and freedom deliver the best protection of that right.   During our short time on Earth it seems only reasonable that all freedom loving people should band together to protect our freedom….regardless of religious views.  But all fundamentalist religions that profess to be compassionate and forgiving have an overwhelming problem.  When it comes to compromise in government to protect everyone’s freedoms and maintain a functional society, religion’s dogmatic and unbendable beliefs in their chosen God present an impossible road block to overcome.   The Evangelical Christians, for example, continue to threaten staying home and not voting if the conservative candidate is pro-choice or not anti-gay…or wants separation of church and state…..even though they would agree with the candidate on the big issue of individual freedom and democracy.

First, we should define what rights that all people have in a democracy…

Source-The Blue Book of Freedom-R.J. Rummel…..”Since 1941, there has been a vigorous international affirmation of these and other human rights. Many a nation’s constitution has included them, and they now are part of an International Bill of Rights. The latter comprises Articles 1 and 55 of the 1945 United Nations Charter, the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, and the two international covenants passed by the General Assembly in 1966, one on civil and political rights and the other on economic, social, and cultural rights. The most basic of all these rights are those defining what governments cannot do to their people. From those stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these include everyone’s right to:

---life, liberty, and personal security;

---recognition as a person before the law, equal protection of the law, remedy for violation of their rights, fair and public trial, and the presumption of their innocence until proven guilty if charged with a penal offense;

---leave any country and return, and seek asylum from persecution;

---the secret ballot and periodic elections, and freely chosen representatives;

---form and join trade unions;

---equal access to public service, and participation in cultural life.

---freedom of movement and residence, thought, conscience and religion, opinion. And expression;

---peaceful assembly and association; and as a parent to choose their children’s education.

---freedom from slavery or servitude, torture, degrading or inhuman treatment or

punishment, arbitrary arrest or detention or exile;

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freedom from deprivation of nationality, arbitrary deprivation of property, and being compelled to join an association.

These human rights define democratic freedom. A people’s freedom of thought,

expression, religion, and association are basic, as are the secret ballot, periodic elections, and the right to representation. In short, these rights say that people have a right to be free.”

These rights are not based on religions…but do protect them.   With out saying it….and at the same time denying it…..all fundamentalist religious movements believe life on earth is doomed unless everyone succumbs to their rules of  God…and also battle to weave their beliefs into government.  And of course, a Utopia in heaven will only come from joining their religious beliefs and participating in spreading the word while you are alive on Earth.

Since there are at least 10,000 known religions on Earth the odds aren’t too good of choosing or finding the right God….it is mostly determined by location of your birth. 

It’s too bad that each religion can’t look at the other ones and see the damage done to mankind by mixing dangerously narrow religious logic with government.  Every religion can easily point out the questionable beliefs of another religion, but not one religion is able to present a clear and provable scenario that they possess the true path to God…. otherwise we would not be discussing religious credibility.

Organized religions have been on this same path for over 2000 years and it appears they will cause their man created prophecies of doom to be fulfilled simply by their unwillingness to compromise on the serious issues facing all of mankind.  This seems immoral to me.

If I am wrong about God, I will be very aware of my mistake during my eternity in Hell.   But if there is not a God……the people of God will selfishly profit at mankind’s expense…..and in death…. never realize they were wrong.

If we join together on promoting true freedom and liberal democracy….it will insure the survival of churches and all cherished beliefs……that’s a good thing!

TryUsingLogic