Back in July I wrote about a local judge here in Toledo who was refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples after same-sex marriage became legal (That article can be found by clicking this link: https://thetwelfthstep.com/2015/07/20/now-that-same-sex-marriage-has-become-legal/). In it, I was quite passive about the matter and truly thought it was just going to become an isolated incident. But since then, there have been a slew of many other individuals across the country following in the same shoes, all basing their denials on the grounds of religious freedom. Because of this, I find myself feeling a lot different now with this growing issue.
Look, I’m all for someone having religious freedom. Personally, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are many paths to the same Source. Thus how one practices connecting to their Higher Power really doesn’t matter to me, so long as it doesn’t take away my ability to have equal rights. But when it begins to infringe upon them, putting me in a place where I’m facing roadblocks and outright denials to something that another human being is able to receive with no problems, strictly because a trait about them is accepted within their beliefs, when mine is not, that’s where I begin to draw the line.
I understand and fully accept the fact there are still plenty of people in the United States, and frankly around the world, who are vehemently against homosexuality, most due to their religious beliefs. Having an opinion about that is one thing, but outright refusing to perform the duties of their job to another because of their beliefs, feels like we’re returning to a time when black people were denied service in establishments deemed as white-only, or even worse, when the Nazi regime persecuted Jews so heinously. Thankfully, right now this movement of anti-homosexual individuals is only in the denial of marriage licenses arena in the United States. But who’s to say that if this unfortunate discrimination pattern continues here, that it doesn’t morph into something much worse.
Another interesting thought I had about this subject is what if the reverse was true and all of these people using their religious beliefs to deny a service to another were denied access to services themselves because the person in charge felt something about them was against their own religious beliefs? Wouldn’t there still be a major outcry and public backlash?
Thus it seems as if this is just going around in circles, and the fact of the matter is, didn’t God bring us all here to love each other equally no matter who we are, what we look like, or what we believe in? Isn’t deep down within each and every one of us a piece of God? If you truly believe this, then why should any of us ever refuse to provide a service to another, as wouldn’t that be an act of denying God himself?
So as you can see, I have begun to change my stance on what I originally wrote in my last article surrounding this issue. While a few months ago I was ok with letting someone practice religious freedom and instead opting to go to someone else who would provide me the same service, I’m not anymore. Seeing the growing number of individuals follow this trend, using religious freedom as a way to deny someone something they truly deserve, feels like it’s taking us in the opposite direction of what God would want of us. Ultimately, I know my Higher Power loves me unconditionally, as well as every one else here on Earth too, which is why I feel it’s my spiritual duty to always do the same, even if it goes against my own beliefs. Because maybe, just maybe, I am being challenged during those moments to look beyond my limited sight and see with eyes more like my Higher Power’s, as with them I’ll be far more embracing, compassionate, and accepting, than if I remain looking through my judgmental own…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
I totally support anyone’s right to practice their individual religious freedom in their private lives and respect their “choice of religious beliefs” which is truly “a choice” However their religious freedom ends when it negatively effects anyone else’s life. Namsaste
Agreed. 🙂