US:Non-Christians' freedom of religion gets little respect

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>"Ashok Chowgule"

>"Ashok Chowgule"

>

>New Attitudes: Non-Christians' freedom of religion gets little respect

in United States >Tue, 3 Apr 2001 09:03:18 +0530 > >New Attitudes:

Non-Christians' freedom of religion gets little respect >in United States

>Author: Greg Woods - For the Journal-Constitution >Monday, April 2, 2001

>URL:http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/epaper/editions/monday/opi

>nion_a38ce5527268e09b008a.html > >I recently got into it with one of the

street >preachers on campus, but the best point of my argument >didn't come

from anything particularly religious. >"I support our Constitution, especially

my freedom of >speech. Otherwise, I couldn't do what I'm doing >today," said

the self-righteous man. > >"What about freedom of religion? Do you support

that?" >I asked calmly. > >"In some forms, yes, I do, but if I had my way,

>Christianity would be the number one religion, and >there would be penalties

to nonbelievers," he said. >"I'd likely have the whole amendment about freedom

of >religion abolished if I could." > >I grinned. He had just proclaimed

himself a hypocrite. >I pointed out to him what I want to point out to you

>now. > >Freedom of religion and freedom of speech go hand in >hand. They can't

exist without each other. Need >evidence? Check out our Bill of Rights. These

two >rights are given to us in the same amendment. Abolish >the amendment with

freedom of religion and you abolish >freedom of speech. > >This man of God was

red in the face at not having a >rebuttal to my point, and so are a lot of

other >Christians who discover this. I've spent a lot of time >arguing for

freedom of religion. Why? For the simple >fact that I'm not a Christian, and

I've only really >been that way for less than a year. But because of >that,

even a white male like myself has experienced >enormous discrimination and

prejudice. > >If you've never experienced religious persecution, >then you're

in one of two categories: You're either a >mainstream Christian, or you're

silent about your >views. If you're anything other than those two, you

>probably know the feeling of taking blows for your >freedom of speech and

religion. > >Someone close to me gave me a copy of the very >intelligent book

titled "Why I Am Not a Christian." >I have been spat on three times, cursed at

five times >and kicked once when I have read that book in public. >I am not the

only one who experiences such hatred and >prejudice. The writer of that book,

Bertrand Russell, >was blocked from a college teaching job by religious >groups

and leaders. Why? Because he was open about his >freedom of speech and his

freedom of religion, and he >would not bend on it. > >Justice is blind, but it

also is often deaf and >unfeeling when it comes to religion. Right about now,

>the Christians reading this are getting fired up, >ready to shout, "Hey,

discrimination happens to >Christians, too, because of their religious

beliefs." >True. And sexual assault also happens to men at the >hands of women,

but it's just not as common as the >other way around. > >Think about it, freedom

of speech is one thing, but >forcing religion upon others is another. If a

Wiccan >were valedictorian at a high school and proclaimed >"Praise Goddess" at

the end of her speech, I could >only imagine the anger and uprising. > >If an

atheist refuses to swear on the Bible in a >courtroom, it is not uncommon for

the man to be held >in contempt in smaller courts. In any case where a

>non-Christian is placed in a Christian environment, an >unbalanced reaction

often occurs. > >In ninth grade in North Carolina, a friend of mine was >kicked

off the football team for refusing to bow in >prayer. He is an atheist. Nothing

was ever done about >it. No justice was served. Such is the case all over >the

United States. Freedom of speech is supported, but >somehow freedom of religion

is not. > >There are hundreds, maybe thousands on the University >of Georgia

campus, and likely millions across America, >who simply cannot believe

Christianity, nor will they >ever. But because of the cruelty and oppression

they >would face if they admitted to it, they succumb to the >majority and

bottle up their opinions and beliefs. >It is hard to come out and proclaim such

nonconformist >religious beliefs, even with freedom of speech in >America. Have

no doubt, rights or not, you will be >persecuted. But do not be afraid. Be true

to yourself >if you believe ideas outside the realm of >Christianity. > >And

Christians, be fair to us. We let you hold your >beliefs, so please have the

same respect for us. >That is, after all, our right. > >Greg Woods, of Augusta,

is a University of Georgia >sophomore. >This column originally appeared in the

UGA student >newspaper, The Red and Black. >WRITTEN BY READERS AGES 15 TO 22 >

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