I think most Christians know the importance of Separation between Church and State. As much as some people would like it to say otherwise in our school history books, this is one of the main reasons our ancestors came to the New World: to have Freedom of Religion. To Worship as they chose to.
Unfortunately, many crimes are committed today in the name of Christianity.
There are so many different directions I could go with that thought, but in this post I am thinking of the case taking place right now in San Angelo, Texas.
I should say from the start that I have mixed feelings about this situation. While I thoroughly agree that the Leader of this sect, Warren Steed Jeffs, is exactly where he should be (in a jail cell), and am also against the practice of polygamy, I do feel some compassion for the women and children in this case.
As I read one reporters description on the day of the evacuation of the women and children from the polygamist ranch, I was slightly irritated... What did it matter that the women and young girls wore floor-length dresses and had hair that reached to their waist? How was this a sign of mistreatment?
Of course, that wasn't what they were saying; they were just emphasizing one more angle which (to that reporter) made these people seem odd.
If the young girls had displayed body piercings, tattoos, and dyed orange hair...they would have seemed perfectly normal.
Please don't misunderstand me, I am NEVER for the under-aged marrying (and forced relations) that is claimed here; I find that rather disgusting. And it SHOULD be punished if it is found to be true.
But I am afraid that perhaps those who have done no wrong are being lumped in with those who have.
And any time that the Government steps in and dictates what can and cannot be done, makes me just a little nervous.
I think these people are sincerely wrong in their beliefs; just as they would think I am in mine.
Do I think the Government should have stepped in? I really don't know. Only time will tell if the right thing was done.
So far, the accuser has not stepped forward, the one who basically set the ball rolling for this evacuation. Many of the members of this Sect feel persecuted and discriminated against. They just want their wives and children to come home.
And yet, crimes cannot be allowed purely because they fall within the realm of religious belief.
This is a case I plan to keep my eye on.
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2 comments:
I don't know much about this case but as I was in and out of the family room where my husband was watching the news, I did see a glimpse of the women and children walking to the van/bus that was taking them away. What struck me is that they seemed to be walking on the bus quite happily. I can guarantee you that if someone was taking me away from my home and my husband that I would be putting up quite a fuss.
Again, I didn't see the whole thing and don't know all the details but that is just something that struck me at the time. Any thoughts on that?
I did hear that some of the women had complaints about some of the rules at the sect, although I suppose you would find women with complaints in every walk of life, LoL.
Seriously though, it sounds like most of them were willing to cooperate, but were distressed to find that they would be held for a longer time after questianing; maybe they thought they would be able to clear up this "misunderstanding". But then all those who had children above 5 years were sent back to the sect WITHOUT their children...that would have ME fighting mad, and appears to have made them feel as close to that as they get.
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