tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post2015752555899934505..comments2024-03-28T13:08:26.494-04:00Comments on Religion & American Law: Free to Believe, not to ActBrantley Gasawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894338478934982958noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-66809435681324563852016-04-13T23:34:40.947-04:002016-04-13T23:34:40.947-04:00The author of this post as well as the previous co...The author of this post as well as the previous commentors seem to have no respect for the 1st Amendment. I think your understanding of religion as something that can always be separated into belief and action is misguided. For Christians like the Walders, the book of James is clear that faith without works is dead. In other words, not acting on their faith is the equivalent to having no faith. If individuals have no right to conduct their business in accordance to their religious beliefs, then there might as well not be a Free Exercise Claus. If you can't apply the Free Exercise Clause to this case for the reason that religion cannot transcend a secular law, then when can you ever apply it? The fact that the state is forcing the Walders to choose between their relatively harmless bed and breakfast business and supporting what they deem to be sin is extremely sad.Peter Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397067632724087162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-10846443478168835412016-04-13T23:25:38.458-04:002016-04-13T23:25:38.458-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Peter Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397067632724087162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-60736176049097181952016-04-06T14:37:17.372-04:002016-04-06T14:37:17.372-04:00I agree with all three posts stating that the bed ...I agree with all three posts stating that the bed and breakfast should not be allowed to discriminate against this couple due to their sexual orientation. Illinois does not allow for discrimination based upon sexual orientation and so the Walders are violating this couple's right to service and their rights against discrimination. I disagree with Rosalie's comment that marriage is not longer a religious act because if it were solely a social part of our culture the Supreme Court would not have been involved in the decision-making process surrounding same-sex marriages in the United States. I do not believe that private businesses should be allowed to received religious exemptions, however that is not because I think we can devoid religion from the concept of marriage completely. Matrimony and the United States's definition of matrimony stems from religious beliefs and this religious foundation is one of the reasons that we continue to prohibit polygamy. I think that it is a bit foolish to believe that we exist in a post-religious society and that we can speak about society and religion as mutually exclusive entities. Caroline S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02285203706163455398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-12871186108502351202016-04-05T20:54:04.468-04:002016-04-05T20:54:04.468-04:00I agree with the comments above. Gay marriage is n...I agree with the comments above. Gay marriage is now legal in America, and using your religion as a viable defense to why you cannot cater to the needs of these people is incredibly problematic. If the Walder's are able to use this as an argument for why they aren't able to facilitate this wedding what is stopping others from arguing that due to their religious beliefs they're allowed to discriminate based on things like race, ability, etc. Lucy Fishellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00212104814507465022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-18334149654237373112016-04-05T18:46:43.187-04:002016-04-05T18:46:43.187-04:00I think that gay marriage transcends the instituti...I think that gay marriage transcends the institution of religion because marriage itself is no longer a religious act because it is instituted by the government and is a social part of our culture rather than a religious one. Therefore I do not think that homophobes should get a religious exemption from serving gay couples getting married. If the couples are serious about not having sinners in their bed and breakfast, should couples staying there be required to prove they actually in a committed relationship to prevent the sin of adultery from occurring under their roof? (Well, the bed and breakfast is probably different from a sleazy motel, but hopefully you get my point)Rosaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14173113696271654467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-23710579214394960512016-04-04T20:12:42.635-04:002016-04-04T20:12:42.635-04:00I agree with your stance on this case that if you ...I agree with your stance on this case that if you are a business owner, you are opening up your service to every possible consumer. Therefore, when the Walder's opened their bed and breakfast, they no longer possessed the rights to turn customers away because they held different beliefs. Simply, if the Walder's would like to honor their beliefs, and feel that in doing so they can not serve a certain group of people, for any reason, then they should close their business. Although I understand where many people would find an issue with this, I believe that there is no reason for a business operate if it is unable to treat all paying and mannered customers in a way that possesses common decency. Matthew L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17196689647807221087noreply@blogger.com