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”.

When Will We Learn?

Have you seen the latest story about gay marriage?  A US District Court Judge ruled that Michigan's ban, "breached equal protection rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution."  Reuters reported that 50 people had lined up for marriage licences when the clerk's office opened at 8 am in Oakland County.  This is only the latest example.  Gays and lesbians are making strides all across our nation in securing their equal rights.  The mayors of Boston and New York City boycotted their city's St. Patrick's Day parades.  Both on grounds that the parade coordinators were excluding gay and lesbian groups.  Boston Mayor Martin Walsh specifically sited the exclusion of a gay veterans group.  I guess they are good enough to die for our country, but not march in our parades. 
When are we as a country going to learn that "All men are created equal"? From the colonists escaping tyranny in England, to blacks fighting and dying for freedom, to immigrants, and now gays; America is a country made of people who have had to fight for our rights.  So, why is yet another group of Americans being forced to fight for their rights?  I did a little research and found the same few arguments over and over.  I searched on the net and interviewed several friends and neighbors.  They will remain nameless to protect their ignorance.

• Strong Religious Objections- I wonder how in-touch these people are with their own religion.  For example: Doesn't the Bible teach us to judge not lest ye be judged?  At the very least love thy neighbor as thy self, or love the sinner but hate the sin.  I just find Christians who persecute gays to be uneducated about their own beliefs.  Jesus preached love and acceptance, not hate and inequality.  
• Legalizing Gay Marriage Will Result In Higher Divorce Rate- I'll just slap this with a statistic.  In Massachusetts (the first state to legalize gay marriage in '04) the divorce rate has declined by 21% since 2003.  
• It's Too Expensive- I can list page after page of websites explaining how we can't afford to provide the same benefits to gay married couples as we do heterosexual married couples. I admit that it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to provide benefits to just our federal employees.  But, since when does our government put money before the basic rights of its citizens?    I'm asking lawmakers to go through their budget and decide what they are spending money on that is not as important as their employees' healthcare.
• Marriage Is Defined As A Union Between A Man And A Woman-  Really?  Is that even an argument?  Look it up.  Lexicography (the writing of dictionaries) is largely based on societal opinions.  With the exception of the Cambridge Dictionary, I couldn't find any dictionaries still defining marriage solely as  "A Union Between A Man And A Woman".  Check for yourself at Dictionary.com
• I'm Sick Of Them Putting Their Business In My Face- Believe it or not, I actually heard this from several people.  Each time I had to make a serious effort not to laugh at them.  The solution is easy.  Give gays and lesbians the same rights as everyone else, and they would have no reason to "put their business in your face."  I highly doubt the gay community is beating down the door of homo-phobes to have sex on their couch.  

Finally, we are a country based on the fact that we are all created equal with an equal opportunity to pursue our lives.  Each time I feel a little pride in our accomplishments, I look around to find we're repeating history, again.