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Religious Freedom or Religious Tyranny?

07 Jul 2014
Emily
News

ChrisKamanThis blog post by Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle (EHST) President Chris Kaman was originally published on the EHST website on July 1, 2014.

The Supreme Court ruling on Hobby Lobby is being hailed by the political right as a victory for religious freedom, and by the political left as a slippery slope down on the way to religious tyranny. Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed an amicus brief supporting the Obama administration against Hobby Lobby, as well as the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). While they both agreed in their conclusions, they differed in their argument. The FFRF argued that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 is unconstitutional, therefore provisions from it should not be used to justify religious exemptions to the Affordable Care Act’s provisions. Americans United focused on the fact that we live in a pluralistic society where secular corporations are not entitled to the rights of individuals under the RFRA. Additional information about the RFRA can be found here. The American Humanist Association signed on to an amicus brief supporting the government’s position requiring compliance by Hobby Lobby; this brief was also signed by the Center for Inquiry, American Atheists, the Military Association for Atheists and Freethinkers, and the Insititute for Science and Human Values.

EHST has long supported the principle of separation of church and state, as has its national organization, the American Ethical Union. We invite readers to weigh in on this issue. I think all sides in this case agree that this issue is resolved for Hobby Lobby, but the future of “religious freedom” in America is far from over.

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American Ethical Union
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The American Ethical Union calls for nontheist participation in National Inaugural Interfaith Service.On Thursday January 21st, the Washington National Cathedral will host a virtual presidential inaugural interfaith service to mark the inauguration of Joe Biden as president. While presented as an opportunity to bring the whole nation together, and while part of the “America United” inaugural activities, one large community will not be represented at all: atheists, agnostics, humanists, and the nonreligious. Millions of Americans today make meaning and express their personal and civic values without reference to a god or traditional religious beliefs. These Americans deserve a voice, and should be included in formal interfaith programming like the Inaugural Service. Read our full statement here: aeu.org/resource/aeu-calls-for-nontheist-participation-in-national-inaugural-interfaith-service/ ... See MoreSee Less

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American Ethical Union
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Today, as the nation continues to recover from an attempted white supremacist insurrection at our capitol, we are reflecting upon this quote from the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. #MLK #MLKDay #MLK2021 #king #martinlutherkingjr #today #EthicalCulture #ethics #2021 ... See MoreSee Less

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American Ethical Union
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AEU Statement Regarding the Events of January 6thYesterday, we watched in shock and horror as a violent mob attacked the US Capitol, forcing their way inside and occupying areas of the building for hours in an attempt to disrupt the certification of electoral votes submitted by the states. By the end of the day, 4 people were dead, 52 members of the seditious mob were arrested, and 14 police officers were injured. It took the assistance of many additional federal law enforcement personnel and the National Guard to remove the attackers from the Capitol and clear the way for the Joint Congress to resume its work.Fortunately, the Joint Congress was resolute and refused to let the interruption derail our democracy, working through the night to certify the electoral vote counts for all of the states. However, this episode was an attack on democracy itself, instigated by a sitting president whose actions have severely undermined respect for and trust in the very system that put him in office. Mr. Trump has shown only contempt for the democratic process and is a danger to our country. People who are in a position to remove Mr. Trump from office ought to proceed in haste as this president has repeatedly shown readiness to incite violence and mayhem, and also continues to demonstrate an obsession with the electoral results to the seeming exclusion of other national concerns. Our democratic system of government must be protected from his influence.As Ethical Humanists, we are called upon to repudiate the anti-democratic tendencies that have gained an unwelcome foothold in public life. Our country will need us to elicit the best from one another and ourselves in the months and years to come.#Jan6 #ethicalhumanism ow.ly/uxes50D2Gzn ... See MoreSee Less

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American Ethical Union
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Share your voice! The AEU is seeking volunteers to contribute to our World Human Rights Day Project. Learn more here: ow.ly/YGDC50CYYPL ... See MoreSee Less

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The American Ethical Union calls for nontheist par The American Ethical Union calls for nontheist participation in National Inaugural Interfaith Service.

On Thursday January 21st, the Washington National Cathedral will host a virtual presidential inaugural interfaith service to mark the inauguration of Joe Biden as president. While presented as an opportunity to bring the whole nation together, and while part of the “America United” inaugural activities, one large community will not be represented at all: atheists, agnostics, humanists, and the nonreligious. 

Millions of Americans today make meaning and express their personal and civic values without reference to a god or traditional religious beliefs. These Americans deserve a voice, and should be included in formal interfaith programming like the Inaugural Service.
Today, as the nation continues to recover from an Today, as the nation continues to recover from an attempted white supremacist insurrection at our capitol, we are reflecting upon this quote from the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. 

#MLK #MLKDay #MLK2021 #King #MartinLutherKingJr #Today #EthicalCulture #Ethics #2021
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