Often, I hear
people assert that the United States of America is a Christian country. They do so despite the fact that there are many other religious faiths observed in America, including the small minority of people who adhere to Judaism. These Christians think it is perfectly appropriate, even their duty, to impose their Christian religious beliefs upon non-Christians, even to the point of passing laws at all levels of government thereby circumventing, ignoring, and violating
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Despite their cries of indignation, outrage, and downright hostility to other countries who have governments that are controlled by religious beliefs (e.g. Islamic governments), these Christians who profess that those 'other' religions should not legislate and impose their beliefs unto the citizens of their respective countries think that the same rules do not apply to them here in the U.S.A.
Recently, Lisa Brown, a state representative in Michigan, gave a speech on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives in which she pointed out that the Michigan Legislature was in the process of trying to enact legislation that would impose Christian religious beliefs on Jewish people, specifically in regards to the issue of abortion, a subject that is indeed covered under Jewish law.
Despite the argument put forth by Representative Brown, not only was the bill passed by the Michigan House of Representatives, but she was censured and forbiddened to speak further on the bill after she made her initial comments.
You may view and listen to those comments of Michigan State Representative Lisa Brown right here:
Prior to her initial and only permitted talk, Representative Lisa Brown was preceded by another State Representaive from Holland, Michigan who spoke about religious freedom. It was only after that spiel that Representative Brown spoke on the bill before the legislative chamber in which she spoke personally about her own faith. Here is the text of the portion of her speech that addresses the religious aspects of the debate:
I'm Jewish. I keep kosher in my home. I have two sets of dishes. One for meat and one for dairy, and another two sets of dishes on top of that for Passover. Judaism believes that therapeutic abortions, namely abortions performed in order to preserve the life of the mother are not only permissable but mandatory. The stage of pregnancy does not matter. Wherever there is a question of the life of the mother or that of the unborn child, Jewish law rules in favor of preserving the life of the mother. The status of the fetus as human life does not equal that of the mother. I have not asked you to adopt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adopt yours?
Why do Christians believe it is justifiable to legislatively impose Christian beliefs on Jewish people and other non-Christians, but it is not justifiable to legislate non-Christian beliefs onto Christians?
