We should never become so tolerant that we tolerate intolerance.
Did people at Jesus Camp committ a crime? Or do we just label any person "terrorist" now who doesn't conform to mainstream standards?
Jesus Camp is the victim here, of intolerance from mainstream society, I know that irks people to hear it, but it's what happened.
Are groups of christians who just viewed "brokeback mountain" going and vandalizing movie theaters?
I am not even christian but I can see the blatant hypocrisy and I think it's hilarious.
I don't think it is funny or hilarious. I think this is a serious issue. I do think your point has some merit that bears discussing.
Yes it is a difficult issue, but lines must be drawn. We live in a country that promotes freedom of religion and religious practice. At the same time we would never allow human sacrifice, would we? That may seem like an extreme example, but many States do not allow animal sacrifice, either. That means Santori is not permitted a basic tenet of its rituals.
Recently, a court sentenced a man to prison for circumsizing his daughter. Mutilating a child is not permitted, even though his actions could have been construed as religious or cultural.
Likewise, we don't allow Muslim men to force women to wear burkas in our country.
Lines must be drawn. We can argue where to draw them, but the statement is not hypocritical. I will repeat it; we should not tolerate intolerance.
Now I will go into controversial territory. I read an article about athiesm in Wired Magazine (November 2006). Richard Dawkins makes the statement:
"How much do we regard children as being the property of their parents?" Dawkins asks. "It's one thing to say people should be free to to believe whatever they like, but should they be free to impose their beliefs on their children? Is there something to be said for society stepping in? What about bringing up children to believe manifest falsehoods?"
From my perspective, Dawkins makes a valid point. We generally do not allow our public schools to teach things to kids we know are simply not true (at least in theory, we don't). But we do allow parents and churches to teach things that have no rational, historic or scientific basis.
After reading here on Fornit's, it is reasonable to see that parents could (can and probably have) sent kids to religious programs to force the child to adopt Christianity. I think this is very, very wrong and parents have no right to do this.
Jesus Camp is dangerous because it promotes an intolerant view and these are impressionable children. They will grow up with a value system that teaches them to attempt to force everyone else to adhere to their rules; based on their values. They are, in other words, teaching kids to be intolerant. My opinion is that in a free society we must have our limits and not tolerate intolerance, or the teaching of intolerance.
As for Christian terrorists blowing things up. I guess you missed Timothy McVeigh. Read up on the case and you will see what really motivated this young man.
