Is It Anarchy Or Religion?

I'm noticing a trend which I can no longer keep to myself. Everyone I engage on the topic tells me they feel like they loose more liberties everyday. I tend to agree with this opinion, however I've been keeping an eye on an opposite trend. The government seems to have created a loop hole which anyone can use to legally break any law. Supreme Court Justice Scalia wrote that we are “courting anarchy”.

Let me explain... Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. have won their lawsuits, so far. They claim they should not have to provide certain healthcare coverage (contraceptive) to their employees based on religious beliefs. Meanwhile, every other employer is be required to offer it. So far, the US Appeals Court has found that forcing them to provide the coverage “places substantial pressure to violate their sincere religious beliefs.” The case is set to be argued in the US Supreme Court.Last month, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed a bill that their state legislature actually passed. They wanted to allow business owners the right to reject customers because they are gay.

I find myself conflicted about the whole situation. First, I have my own faith and belief system I will never allow the Federal Government to dictate. But, I can imagine the whole conflict between the government and religion spiraling out of control. Consider these scenarios;

• Your Rights VS Everyone's Religion- Hobby Lobby is breaking ground for religion to be able to dictate what healthcare will be provided to their employees. For now, the debate is about contraceptive. What will the argument be tomorrow? If a business owner decides he only believes in religious healing, can he refuse to offer healthcare?

• Whose Religion Is It Anyway?- The Supreme Court has ruled that it recognizes the political views of a corporation, therefore it must also recognize it's religious beliefs. I ask, “WHY?” What happened to the separation of church and state? We must provide the right to exercise any religion, but we also can't let that expression deny the rights of others. Obviously, Hobby Lobby has employees with different religious beliefs than their own. Otherwise, there would be no lawsuit. So, why is a corporation allowed to force their belief system on their employees?  
• I'm still baffled that the Arizona State Legislature would pass a bill allowing discrimination against one segment of their population. Can't they see they could be paving the way for any hate group?
• For now, the majority of these cases have been brought by Christians. Would these same people stand aside as Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and others parade similar cases into court? For example; Does the Arizona Legislature think a store owner can refuse service to a customer because they are Christian?

• Create Your Own God- If my religion allows me to pick and choose the laws I want to obey, then why not create my own religion? In accordance with the Constitution, Congress can not decide which religions it recognizes and those that are false. Specifically, the Supreme Court has ruled it “is forbidden to punish the expression of religious doctrines it believes to be false.” Becoming an ordained minister is as simple as filing out a free online form. This all anyone needs to legally start their own church. This allows them the protection of these seemingly expanding rights. For instance a church of pot. It's a real church which appears to use freedom of religion to legally smoke marijuana. Could someone make any illegal substance a sacrament? What if tax evaders, child abusers, animal abusers, or unethical business owners started their own churches? Could they violate any law they needed?

In the end, we need to remember what America represents. We are a country whose founding principle is freedom for all. We all have the right to be whatever religion we choose, but it can not interfere with our neighbors rights, the law of the land, or endanger others. Even the Bible says to give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and give unto God what is God's. No one (especially our employer) should be able to deny our “life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness”.