How to Determine If Your Religious Liberty Is Being Threatened In Just 10 Quick Questions (Service Member Edition)

Published On: March 7, 2014|Categories: News|3 Comments|

Accessibility Notice

This post was created on the previous version of the MRFF website, and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. If you need help accessing this content, please reach out via email.

1. My religious liberty is at risk while serving in the US Military because:

A) I am not allowed to go to a religious service of my own choosing during my off-duty time.

B) Others are allowed to go to religious services of their own choosing during their off-duty time.

2. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) I am not allowed to share my lawful military benefits with the person I love, even though my religious community blesses my marriage and the state in which we serve recognizes my marriage.

B) The federal government refuses to enforce my own particular religious beliefs on marriage on those two guys in line down at the courthouse and in all other states in the Union.

3. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) I am being forced to use birth control by my commander.

B) I am unable to force others who serve with me not to use birth control.

4. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) I am not allowed to pray privately.

B) I am not allowed to force others to attend mandatory military events during duty time that include prayers specific to my faith.

5. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) Being a member of my faith means that I can be bullied without legal recourse by my peers and military superiors.

B) I am no longer allowed to use my faith to intimidate and bully gay, Atheist, Muslim, Jewish, and all other non-evangelical fundamentalist Christians during the duty day even if I do outrank them.

6. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) I am not allowed to purchase, read or possess religious books or material.

B) Others are allowed to have access to books, movies and websites that I do not like even in their off-duty time.

7. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) My religious group is not allowed equal protection under the establishment clause.

B) Others (outside of my evangelical, fundamentalist Christian group) are allowed the same excusals, access to facilities, and accommodations that I’ve enjoyed for decades.

8. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) Another religious group has been declared the official faith of my country.

B) My own religious group is not given status as the official faith of my country, foundation for our Constitution, and is not considered THE single accepted basis for honorable service within the Department of Defense.

9. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) My religious community is not allowed to meet off-duty, on- or off-base without harassment or fear of reprisal by superior officers.

B) A religious community I do not like wants to discuss their beliefs off-duty, on- or off-base without harassment or fear of reprisal by superior officers.

10. My religious liberty is at risk because:

A) My beliefs, if known by my superiors, are likely to be seen as negative factor in my chances for promotion.

B) Military personnel who do not share my particular belief system are considered my moral and ethical equivalent in the service of our great nation.

Adapted with permission from Rev. Emily C. Heath. Heath is a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister serving as a pastor in southern Vermont. She is also a member of the national United Church of Christ Board, and a speaker and writer on Christian faith and social justice. To read the original quiz, click here.

 

Share This Story

3 Comments

  1. Kurt Van Tassel March 10, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    How about —-My religious liberty has been threatened for over a century because my government has violated our constitution by promoting one religious belief above all others by placing it on our money?

    How about—-My religious liberty has been threatened for over half a century by my government promoting one religion over all others in violation of our constitution and at the same time destroyed what was once a loyalty oath we all swore to our flag and country by turning our pledge into nothing more than a religious rant representing one specific religious belief?

  2. Ashamed March 15, 2014 at 9:10 pm

    This is just sad…but you have always stood up straw men. Thats what one must do when they refuse the truth shouted around them and argue that Christianity ultimately leads to the hollocost. You are so blinded by hatred you hurt the very document and standard you love. I am sorry for you Mikey. I use to be mad at you back in 2007 but now I am just sorry for you.

  3. Roberto April 7, 2014 at 8:57 am

    Poor, poor Christians. How could Christians possibly even survive in the United States without constantly imagining themselves to be the victims of religious oppression–despite the fact that they are overwhelmingly the majority religion. Just reading one of the comments here proves that “Christians” in America sure don’t act much like Christians. Like racism, this is a twisted notion that if you’re not allowed to practice your prejudices YOU are somehow the victim. If Jesus came back tomorrow, these so-called Christians would have a big surprise coming.

Leave A Comment