The Wall Street Journal is Suddenly Not Republican



Today the Wall Street Journal did something extraordinary. It published an article by a prominent Hindu who pointed out the asymmetry in the U.S. in what is called "Religious Freedom." Religions which include the duty to proselytize their theology are favored. Those religions which preach that to proselytize is wrong are treated as lesser. President Trump appointed a board to "officially" monitor "freedom of religion." He appointed almost no members from religions that do not proselytize. Needless to say, there is no one from the large atheist organization, Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Perhaps Hindus or other faiths have stepped into the firing line before against the dominant Christian forces, but I don't recall it. Since becoming involved in the politics of faith it has become obvious to me atheism, even if organized and forceful, will not push aside the abuses of Christianity in the U.S. I wrote years ago what is needed is for some other religion to step in front of the firing squad. 

When I was President of an atheist group I called on a couple of different representatives of non Christian religions and suggested they register their opposition to display of the Ten Commandments or Christian prayers at public meetings. In both cases the answer was, "We are having enough trouble as it is. We don't need more reasons for the majority Christians to hate us and our children." With Hindus people taking prominent political offices along with Muslims (Mayor of NYC) the battle ground may have changed. 

Christians see an imaginary halo over their heads. There is no such halo for atheists, atheists are the enemy. Readers may have different ideas on this but I think people of the Muslim faith also have no halo and also are seen as evil. The same for pagans. Jews have a mixed review but carry little cache in the halo department. Something different seems present in Buddhism, Hinduism, Janism, Shinto and Indigenous faiths. Perhaps there is no halo but there is no threat either. These faith do not proselytize but are part of the asymmetric balance in religious freedom.

With representative of Hinduism stepping forward ready to do battle we may see some progress against the Christian dominance in the public square.
  

 

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