Quote Originally Posted by Thorne View Post
I agree with you to a point, but where does one draw the line between those who truly want to dress a certain way and those who are forced to by their religious leaders?
I wish I knew. But I imagine that if a society becomes more equal (women can earn their own money) and less religious, the pressure on people from their religious backgruond will become less. Maybe that is the only way for that problem.

Especially in Islam, but in other religions as well, women especially are required to dress to satisfy some arbitrary religious tenet, and trying to go against those tenets can get women seriously injured, even killed. Generally by their own husbands, or even sons!
That is in fundamentalistic societies, and they are rebelling - thank all the gods large and small whether here or not and good for them! I salute their courage.

I think her primary point, as is mine, is that any religion which FORCES its followers to remain true to the faith under penalty of death is nothing more than a cult.
Whatever expression, it has no place in a democracatic society.

Banning of Sharia law in England, for example, would give those who want to leave the faith the opportunity to do so, with less fear of retaliation.
I don't understand. What Sharia law? Surely it is the secular law here?

It's important that all religious organizations, and those who run them (priests, imams, rabbis, etc.) should be held accountable to the secular law first, and then to their religious laws where applicable.
You lost me again. All are accountable to the laws, (theoretically anyway) right? As for religious laws, that would be a matter between the members of those congregations. But if they harass or threathen their members they answer to the secular law. At least here, where threats are not considered fredoom of speech.

Allowing them to escape from secular punishment because of religious beliefs is stupid and dangerous.
Who are doing that? Are you thinking of a specific case?

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I also agree with her statement that religious organizations should be treated like any other business and be subject to standard tax laws of all countries.
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Well, yes, obviously, if they have income.

Allow them to take deductions for any charitable work they perform or donate to, but they don't deserve to be treated any differently than any other business.
True. The medieval church was tax-free, and it was a terrible rival to other buisnesses.