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paxy • today at 2:13 PM • 6 replies • view on HN

Yes I am implying exactly that. This is a very frequent topic of debate.

- People refusing vaccination requirements in schools, offices, the military.

- Pharmacists refusing to fill certain prescriptions (like birth control).

- Restaurant owners refusing to serve gay people.

- Kids (well, their parents) refusing to study certain topics in school.

Are you implying that there isn't a "meaningful population" that is against some of these?

There are thousands of religions each with their own set of beliefs. Many of them directly conflict with each other, and with societal laws. You can make up a "religious exemption" for literally anything, and they are selectively allowed based on how the majority religion tolerates the thing.


Replies

bunderbunder • today at 3:11 PM

There is a really interesting point that I think you're getting at, but choosing well known and already politically charged examples undermines the discussion by bringing cognitive dissonance in at the ground floor.

What about an example where religious belief fundamentally excludes someone from doing the actual job? Suppose a Muslim wants a job as a bartender, but refuses to actually serve people drinks because they consider it a violation on the rule against alcohol. Should the bar grant them a religious exemption and just accept that they won't be serving alcoholic beverages when that person's the bartender on duty?

Or what if two different religious beliefs come into direct conflict? Suppose a Jehovah's Witness whose manager is also a JW decides to leave the religion. Jehovah's Witnesses consider shunning apostates to be a religious commandment, so their manager might feel obligated to fire them. Is that OK?

Depending on how we resolve those conflicts, perhaps people can at least agree that there should be limits to religious exemptions, even if they don't agree on the specifics. But perhaps that's at least a starting point for a conversation. And perhaps from there we can extend out to Durham's position.

vjkuf • today at 2:25 PM

There are also people who believe you shouldn't be allowed to wear a head scarf or turban. Or be allowed to pray five times a day.

Of note, every single one of your examples impacts multiple people in significant ways. None of them are people just wanting to practice their faith in isolation. I think the cases you describe aren't really analogous.

goodmythical • today at 2:22 PM

-doctors refusing to abide by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health Standard of Care's Standards of Care for Hormone Replacement Therapy and Gender Confirming Surgeries

-employers refusing to employ queer people

-landlords refusing queer tenants

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ChickeNES • today at 7:13 PM

This is exactly why I oppose all religious exemptions.

drdexebtjl • today at 2:48 PM

In all of your examples, the “religious accommodation” harms a third party.

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eastbound • today at 2:18 PM

For your examples, you've chosen only one side.

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