A federal court has ruled that three Indiana judges discriminated against a deaf citizen. They refused to provide an interpreter for a deaf man who sought to attend court proceedings involving his mother.

The laws of society trump your right to practice your religion. If your religion demands the rape or murder of people, the state has every right to force you to defy your religion.

That's obviously grossly exaggerated, but it proves the point.

Not in America. That's the whole reason the government puts down cults like Ruby Ridge, Waco and Heaven's Gate before they grow large enough to be considered a religion - once they reach that tipping point there is no going back and the government lacks any authority over them. The Amish and to a lesser extent the Mormons and Scientologists are prime examples of this.

The state should not put undue burden on someone's right to practice their religion, and one of the established exceptions which is routinely granted as "reasonable burden" is when the practice of that religion impacts the rights of other people. In that case, the religious practice (always?) loses.

Should is not a valid standard. The very first amendment, the basis of our entire country, is that the state and the church are separate and independent.

Society is more important that your religion. The rights of other people are more important than your desire to impact their lives while expressing your religion. So long as it has no impact... then I will be first in line to defend its existence. Once it impacts others, then you have to start making decisions.

I have no religion, it doesn't change the fact you are calling on mob rule to enforce your ideals on a group of people in favor of another group of people you like more.

So, in my opinion: Yes, the state has every right to force people to ignore their religious feelings and act in a tolerant manner. That is the decision and ruling of society, the society that supports and protects them.

A new country maybe, but not this one.

If that upsets you and other religious fundamentalists? Meh. I'm not that bothered. My concern is society, and I recognize that fundamentalism isn't terribly healthy for societies. Most cultures that see a rise in fundamentalist religions tend be failing cultures.

Again, I have no religion. This is about what is right and what is wrong. It is wrong to expect a people to change because you want them to change if they do not want to change. You have no right to force your ideals on another person. What you are saying "should" happen is the exact equivalent of saying "the religious people should be able to force the gays to buy from them and only them" - there is zero difference, one group is being forced into oppression in favor of another group.

/r/news Thread Parent Link - nad.org