Here's the real question we should be asking ourselves in relation to the Indiana Bill

I don't see Satanism having a slot on the US census so any requests claiming to come from that religion probably go straight in the trash. Wiccan managed to break out of the Other category, so if they could somehow establish some central beliefs that don't severely impact the functioning of the government or society in general, it might be recognized. Christians want to meet in a building; other religions want to wear a funny hat on their head or cover their hair/face. Those don't break down society. Claiming a religious requirement as a reason for not paying taxes isn't going to fly no matter how big your following is.

Where does refusing to serve gays fall? Feels like discrimination to me, but on the other hand one can freely refuse service to ugly people. Is that right? Employers can drug test applicants or make them take an IQ test; you may see that as unfair, but shouldn't an employer be able to find the best person to suit the job? The line between unfair discrimination leading to the disenfranchisement of some people and an individual's right to make their own decisions based on their own reasoning must be drawn somewhere.

Then there's the problem of what the service is that they're refusing to do. Doctors can refuse to perform abortions. I don't really see anyone up in arms about that; it doesn't make them any less of a doctor. Churches shouldn't be forced to officiate gay weddings, right? Must my catering business be forced to serve at a gay wedding? Is making them be a part of something that goes against their beliefs somehow different from making a doctor perform a medical procedure that they consider to be murder? But what if a gay person just wants to come into your shop and buy something? That doesn't seem like it would cause any undue trauma and refusal to sell them something certainly feels like discrimination.

I don't know. Food for thought.

/r/atheism Thread