<The central problem of religious freedom lies in dealing with religious groups that require their members to violate the religious freedoms of others.>
Steve,
Perhaps it is just my "practical nature" but I see this entire issue as a practical problem in terms of boundaries and the notion of trespassing. I believe that most people have a very good understanding of the boundary which lies between holding a belief, and going out of one's way to disturb others with those beliefs. So, it seems to me that the real "problem" is in defining where a boundary exists.
For example, several years ago, a certain evangelical-type church set up shop near my farm. Almost immediately, I was plagued by "visitors" who felt that it was open season on converting local yokels such as myself to come on board. I politely said, "No thanks" on several occasions, and yet they continued to drop in on me despite all protests. Finally the day arrived when I truly became fed up with having people "seek me out" inside the barn during milking, or while in the middle of the hot, sweaty job of mucking out stalls. I finally told them that they were trespassing on private property and to get out of my face and never return... (yes...never push a polite crocodile to the furthest extreme of its tolerance... it's not a pretty sight...;-}
I think that it's very clear that a commonsense boundary was being transgressed in the above case... at least one that makes sense to me. IMO, evangelist-visitors have a great deal in common with aggressive, lawless hunters who don't ask permission to enter a property, ignore fences and signs, and who make a nuisance of themselves by taking potshots at my livestock... they are not welcome and, in fact, detested...
To continue, it seems that boundaries do exist in other less physical ways than the above case. For example, if I'm having supper with friends at an outdoor cafe, is it OK for someone to suddenly break into our conversation to do some political campaigning, or try to convert us to some religion? Is their behaviour really any different than that of some drunk who is weaving his way down the street and who comes to our table to make obnoxious comments and try to pick a fight. The words may not be the same, but the disruption is certainly of a similar nature?.. unwelcome and entirely unwanted...
So, what is the "boundary" on a forum such as S.I? To my mind, that is a very practical problem. I have some opinions about commonsense boundaries. Perhaps others would like to comment...
Croc |
