CONSTITUTION OF THE USSR -- 1936"ARTICLE 124. In order to ensure to citizens freedom of conscience, the church in the U.S.S.R. is separated from the state, and the school from the church. Freedom of religious worship and freedom of anti-religious propaganda is recognized for all citizens."
Few remember that the Soviets enshrined religious freedom in their Constitution. It's easy to forget, given the tens of thousands of priests, pastors and nuns they executed during this period of "freedom". But it's right there on paper -- people had a right to believe what they wanted.
What they lacked was a right to take it seriously. For example, by teaching others that God's law is higher than Marx's, or that the end of history would bring a Heavenly Kingdom rather than a dictatorship of the proletariat. That made you guilty of thought-crime. And you were then denounced as decadent and anti-revolutionary.
It's not so different today. Modern enlightened tolerance assures you an absolute right to believe whatever you want -- you can worship Odin, pyramids, Jesus or Allah, it's all good.
What you lack the right to do is take it seriously. For example, by actually believing Jesus's 'totalizing discourse' on being 'the Way, the Truth and the Life' and the only path to the Father. That way lies the road to intolerant perdition. And once you cross the line of taking your beliefs seriously, you're considered guilty of thought-crime. And you're then denounced as bigoted, Fundamentalist or fanatical.
Thankfully, those charges only get you exiled to Alabama, rather than Siberia.
Posted by Discoshaman at janvier 7, 2004 01:04 AM | TrackBack
Those would would argue that the most salient modern sin is idolizing the government have a case when it comes to this -- people have come to believe that because with respect to the government you have the right to believe whatever you want, that that actually means that you really are free to believe whatever you want in the broader scheme of things -- as though the government's permission to do something sanctifies it. It also reminds me of a conversation I once heard on talk radio as well -- one person was listing all the practical reasons why a particular woman should not have had an abortion, and furthermore why it was morally wrong, and the other party's only response was, "But she had the RIGHT to do it," as though that put her actions beyond question.
So, in other words, because we all have the legal right to believe what we choose without fear of governmental persecution, that therefore means that we have the moral right to do so, and are acting in perfect morality when we do so. And therefore, it is actually immoral for anyone to criticize our morally acceptable choices. And therefore, any worldview that contains an inherent, implied criticism of the choices of others cannot morally be taken seriously.
Posted by: pentamom at janvier 7, 2004 08:59 PMI remember a William Safire quote I jotted down around the 9th Grade that said "The right to do something doesn't necessarily make it right to do it." That always stayed with me.
BTW, after reading this most recent comment of yours, the Duchess reiterated her plan to be you when she grows up. :-)
Posted by: Discoshaman at janvier 8, 2004 01:55 AMSurely she can aim higher than that! I'm 38 years old and being grown up is nowhere in sight!
Posted by: pentamom at janvier 9, 2004 12:23 AMAhhhhh. . . Yet you have achieved such, such. . . wisdom and style at such a young age. . .
Posted by: The Duchess at janvier 9, 2004 12:40 AM