If someone said "I'll circumcise my son because it's the done thing in my social group." they would be condemned, questions would be asked about their parenting skills and child welfare would get involved, but "because of my faith" and we accept it under "tolerance" or "you must not question someone's deeply held beliefs" criteria.
Richard Dawkins cites an example of someone refusing to go to war in Vietnam, they are against the war on moral grounds, it was an unjust war and one that the US and others should not have started. This person would be sent to die for something they didn't believe in, but if they had just said "My Dad's a quaker" - bingo, they get to stay at home.
Of all things, questioning someone faith (which by it's very nature cannot be damaged by that questioning) is something we should do.
Also the "it's part of my religion" argument would stand up a little more if the people claiming it followed all of the teachings of their religion. So few do.
Recommended reading : "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins
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Date: 2008-08-04 03:52 am (UTC)If someone said "I'll circumcise my son because it's the done thing in my social group." they would be condemned, questions would be asked about their parenting skills and child welfare would get involved, but "because of my faith" and we accept it under "tolerance" or "you must not question someone's deeply held beliefs" criteria.
Richard Dawkins cites an example of someone refusing to go to war in Vietnam, they are against the war on moral grounds, it was an unjust war and one that the US and others should not have started. This person would be sent to die for something they didn't believe in, but if they had just said "My Dad's a quaker" - bingo, they get to stay at home.
Of all things, questioning someone faith (which by it's very nature cannot be damaged by that questioning) is something we should do.
Also the "it's part of my religion" argument would stand up a little more if the people claiming it followed all of the teachings of their religion. So few do.
Recommended reading : "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins