Religious freedom at stake in this election, but not in the way evangelicals think

[rug]

By Deborah Fikes | November 3, 2016

(RNS) When evangelical Christians cast their votes for president, we must remember that religious freedom is at stake.

Sadly, many evangelicals have been misled to believe religious freedom means “keeping Christ in Christmas” during the holiday season. The reality is far more dire: Presidential candidate Donald Trump is singling out and advocating a system of persecution of a religious minority.

As Christians, we would never sit back and allow a government to tell its citizens how they should pray or whether they belong in our country based on faith alone. We cannot allow fear and bigotry to determine this election; we must maintain religious freedom as the core of our nation’s values.

I have had a great privilege and honor to work around the globe to promote international religious freedom. I have traveled to many countries where religious freedom is nonexistent or greatly threatened. I’ve spoken out firmly as an evangelical who wants to be rooted in the original meaning of the word gospel, which means “good news,” and for this reason I am grateful to call the United States my home.

http://religionnews.com/2016/11/03/religious-freedom-at-stake-in-this-election-but-not-in-the-way-evangelicals-think/

[Panich52]

1. Radicals are ruining any positive reputation religion may have

had. That includes Christianity, as well as Islam.

I was a quiet, live-&-let-live atheist until the early 90s when fundamentalists ramped up their attacks on secularism — from creationism in schools to demanding Biblical law supersedes civil law.

Unfortunately, the radicals, both C & I, have gotten worse. And made me an angry atheist. Not a good situation for anyone.

[TexasProgresive]

2. All radicals destroy what the seek to save.

[Panich52]

3. Yep

I