The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil...

So, I've been reading some interesting stories in the news lately.

Such as these:

Woman in New Mexico is Sued by Gay Couple

Colorado venue is Sued by Gay Couple

What is this REALLY about?  Gay marriage rights?  No.  It's an attack on religion.  If those gay couples really just wanted to get married and live happily ever after, they would not have asked a person or company who they knew would not serve them, to serve them.  They did it because they wanted money, power, and recognition, at the expense of someone else's rights.

Don't get me wrong, I think people should be free to live and love as they please.  I don't hate gay people--in fact, I know some pretty awesome people who happen to be gay--that's not what this is about.

It's about religion.

Redefining marriage affects the ability of others to live their religion.  There are a couple of examples of that at the beginning of this post, but here's another example; one of a business that pushed back (and lost) because they were being attacked for their religious beliefs.

What exactly is wrong with a person (who happens to own a business) declaring that he believes men and women were made for each other, and only for each other?  Are businesses who declare that they support men marrying men and women marrying women attacked, punished, or sued?

Also, is there a difference between a business refusing to serve people based on their sexual orientation and businesses refusing to show support for something they don't believe in?

Not all gay rights activists are attacking religion--although, that does seem to be the two biggest groups butting heads at the moment.  But religion is being attacked on every side.

--Parents are losing their rights to opt children out of controversial school material.

--State and federal laws are both overruling what the people decide, and taking away their choice in religious and business matters.

--All this is happening because societal views are becoming increasingly negative toward religious people... perhaps from the influence of media (or the other way around?).

I have personally seen children in schools being bullied because of their religion, and even experienced it myself.  Although I'm still working on forgiving and not harboring hurt feelings, I am a very resilient person.  Unfortunately, not everyone is, and only the severest bullying attacks against religious children can be taken up with any kind of civil justice system.
Children cannot advocate for themselves, and religious intolerance tears families and communities apart, which is a cryin' shame in this country, where religious freedom is supposed to be protected.

Why is this happening?  Why the attacks on religion and morality?

Religious freedom is something that needs special protection because it is something that can easily be taken away by lawmakers--not what we believe, per say, but our ability to live what we believe.

Now, I wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure religious freedom was a HUGE motivating factor behind the founding of this nation in the first place.  What makes me think that?

The Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights was an amendment to the Constitution of the United States because the People were not satisfied with its contents--they wanted to ensure that their religious rights were explicitly being protected.  Why was it so important to the American People of the late 1700s to have that freedom?

Look at this article to see how religion benefits people and why it is important.

Now that you know what the issue is and how it's affecting everyone, I invite you to do something about it.
Here are a few suggestions:

--Read the news.  Actively seek to know what is going on, because they won't always broadcast it in front of your face.
--Get in touch with your law-makers.  Look for the ones that serve you, specifically, and talk to them.  They are in their position so that they can advocate for you.  But they can't do that if they don't know what you think.
--Start in your own home.  Make sure your children are informed and know what religious freedom is.
--Get involved in your schools and communities.  Serve in the PTA or PTO, or the school board, so that you can be a part of the education.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men do nothing."  ~Edmund Burke