religious tradition
religious belief
religious attire
It seems to me that there is only debate because of the decision to define the tradition or belief or attire as 'religious' and that if that description wasn't there, people would be more respectful and/or tolerant of what other people choose to do, believe, or wear.
For instance, If you believe in prayer before a meal, and attend a home or event where prayer before the meal does not happen, you may make a fuss. or vice versa, if you are an atheist and attend a home or event where prayer DOES happen you may make a fuss.
Or another example, if you are not of the belief of God made HE male and SHE female, and instead every one was JUST made human, and you hear that boy scouts only allows in boys, or girl scouts only allow in boys, you may make a fuss.
Or if you are not a christian, you may be offended if someone says Merry Christmas.
I hear that religion is a great divider, but it doesnt have to be. I feel more than half of the division, is based in how we CHOOSE to make anything with the label religious an automatic divider.
A wanted to share a technique that I find helpful in this situation(really any situation, but I have narrowed it down to the subject of this forum)
If we find ourselves with a 'divisive' religious question around a belief, tradition, or fashion, ask whether it is divisive ONLY because YOU have attributed it to religion. If so, the division is avoidable and you should maybe try to accept the difference like you do any other.
So, maybe I am not Jewish. I don't celebrate Hannukah. so, if someone says to me, "Happy Hannukah", I can choose to make it about 'religion' because of the word Hannukah, or i can choose to make it about someone wishing me a positive feeling because of the word "Happy". It is not different than if they say "Happy Sunday", or 'Have a good day." and if they framed it around the title of a holiday that is falling, it doesn't change that the wish itself is for my happiness.
If I am at a place of business that sells flags. And I am a religious extremist angry with America. And the owner does not wish to make me a flag for a flag burning event, I can frame that around religion and feel like that service is denied based on my 'religious belief
Or I can frame it around whether a small private brand, in the social media age, should have a right to some discretion over how and where their product or service is associated at certain events. No different than a vegan cake maker not wanting to sell a cake for a pig roast, or a pacifist not wanting to sell party trays for a hunting convention.
Just take the religion out of it and frame it only on personal right or personal discretion, and it may take a different perspective.
Edited by
msharmony
on Sun 03/31/19 04:13 PM