Politics and Religion

It is Spring Break.

I am now officially “almost old” (29).

This semester is kicking my brain.

There are not enough hours in a day or days in a week.

But the point of my entry today isn’t to talk about all that, that was just preliminary catch-up for anyone who reads my blog and has been wondering where in the heck I’ve been the last few months. On to the good stuff…

I’ve been formulating these thoughts for a while and I’ve decided that I am going to start blogging about my religious and political views. I may only discuss one topic at a time, I may discuss multiple topics that tie in, but I’ve decided that whenever I discover/investigate a different topic and come to a personal conclusion I want to write them down so if anyone ever asks me about them I will at least be able to pull up this blog and say “this is what I think and why.”

I am not religious. I am not atheist or agnostic. I am not religious.

Many people believe that morality is impossible without religion, but it is not so. Breaking the laws of whatever country, state, county, or city you live in is wrong. Intentional harm to another person is wrong, ANY way you look at it (sexual/physical/emotional abuse, bullying, murder, cheating, lying, etc.).

Politically I base my views on what is right. Not right for me, but right for everyone. Just because I don’t do something does not mean that I think everyone should not be allowed to do so. I do not smoke, I rarely drink—but I don’t think smoking and drinking should be illegal. I wear my seatbelt, but I don’t think there should be laws requiring ADULTS to wear seatbelts (I think seatbelts should be mandatory for anyone 18 and under); I also don’t think it should be a law that motorcyclists wear helmets. If you’re an adult, you are responsible for yourself. Laws should not take away personal responsibility.

Laws should not force religious beliefs on those without. Employers should not be able to hire, fire, or adjust health coverage based on religion. Otherwise, which religion should we cater to? If we are truly a country of religious freedom we cannot make any laws specific to religion: that includes allowing companies to adjust their insurance policies to not cover things that are against the company’s religious beliefs or to fire individuals for seeking medical treatment that is against the company’s religion.