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    Finding Our Compass: Setting a course for Democracy to succeed
    Finding Our Compass: Setting a course for Democracy to succeed
    Finding Our Compass: Setting a course for Democracy to succeed
    Ebook110 pages1 hour

    Finding Our Compass: Setting a course for Democracy to succeed

    By Robert Raymond

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    About this ebook

    Solving America's Toughest Challenges: An Enlightening Guide Offering Compromises and Solutions for Our Nation's Most Complex Issues. Bridging Divides, Spurring America's Evolution.

    In this groundbreaking book, Finding Our Compass, the author unveils a potent analysis of the critical issues that currently hinder A

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPalmetto Publishing
    Release dateOct 15, 2024
    ISBN9798822959491
    Finding Our Compass: Setting a course for Democracy to succeed
    Author

    Robert Raymond

    Born in Germany to a U.S. Army specialist, Robert Raymond is a self-educated author with a distinctive perspective on knowledge and learning. Raised in Maine by his mother and stepfather, Raymond developed a unique approach to learning early on, believing if you learn what everyone else learns, you will only know what everyone else knows. His commitment to broad and independent thinking coupled with his desire to study both sides of an issue has fueled his life's work, culminating in his book, Finding Our Compass. Raymond's work is driven by a desire to share new solutions to America's greatest challenges, making his writings invaluable to readers of all ages seeking insightful and innovative perspectives.

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      Book preview

      Finding Our Compass - Robert Raymond

      What is the Role of Religion in a Democracy?

      A

      lot of what divides us in this Country is the differences in our religious beliefs. Issues such as Abortion, Gay Marriage, and Transgender Rights are examples of religious issues that create huge divides between Americans. And since we are all entitled to have our own religious beliefs, there is no right or wrong in anyone’s position on these issues.

      In the Constitution, the First Amendment does two things as it relates to the freedom of Religion:

      Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…

      The First Amendment keeps the Government from forcing us to live under the umbrella of a specific Religion, and the First Amendment allows us to choose and stay true to a Religion of our choice.

      I think before we go on, we should define the difference between Religion and God. I know that may sound unnecessary, but I believe it needs to be spelled out. If we can understand the difference between the two then we will be able to accept one into our public life and save the other one for our private life.

      A Religion is the collection of the beliefs of what God is, what God stands for, and what God expects from us as human beings. Religions are formed and founded as people with similar beliefs come together as a group.

      God is one of the names that refer to a Supreme Being. God is the name used in Christianity. There are other names for the Supreme Being used in other Religions. And there are many other names within Christianity itself that refer to God. But please forgive me as I am going to use the word God to represent the Supreme Being I believe in. And I mean no disrespect to anyone else who may have a different name for the Supreme Being they choose to believe in. I can only speak to what I believe in as it pertains to God.

      Most Religions refer to their Supreme Being to be the one that has created all that they know to exist and is the architect of all that they will know in the future. There is no absolute, undeniable evidence that proves the existence of a Supreme Being. The belief in the existence of a Supreme Being is based in faith and faith alone. The shared faith of individuals gives them a sense of belonging, a sense of worth, and a sense of security. And with all that comes an innate desire to protect the group and all they share. It is due to the innate desire to protect the group that we struggle to accept beliefs different from our own. We struggle in our acceptance of other religions because we feel if we validate their beliefs, somehow that invalidates our own. But that is not the case at all; actually accepting someone else’s beliefs and them accepting yours only validates your shared commitment to honoring the loving God you each believe in.

      We have the idea of God mentioned in the founding documents of our Nation. In God We Trust is on our currency. There can be no separation between Government and the core ideals expected from us by God. Yet there must be a separation between Government and the conflicting ideals of different Religions.

      I believe there is a place and a role for God in our Government. But there is no place and no role for Religion in the way we govern. Government cannot get into the business of sanctioning certain religions. The First Amendment strives to keep a person’s religious beliefs private and non-intrusive to another person’s religious beliefs.

      Whether you believe in the existence of God or you don’t believe in the existence of God, you have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. What is just and what is unjust. In most Religions it is through the God the people believe in that delineates what they believe to be fair and what they believe to be unfair, what they believe to be just, and what they believe to be unjust. Aren’t the answers to what is fair and what is just the essence of what God stands for, what each of our Gods stands for? Believers in God and non-believers in God share a lot of the same values and want a government built on the ideals of decency and fairness. Whether you believe in God or you don’t believe in God, you probably believe we should have laws that protect humanity and each other. The best ideals of what God expects from us and the best ideals of humanity without religion are very close to being one and the same.

      My religion cannot tolerate Abortion, and so I can’t tolerate another religion that does. I understand that sentiment. I get where they are coming from. But they don’t have to tolerate the other person’s religious beliefs by making them their own. But the Government has to tolerate different religious beliefs and make sure that people have the right to believe in them.

      I have tried to teach my children that trying to prove you’re right isn’t always the right thing to do. After all, it is possible that both sides of an issue may be right.

      I understand that the meaning of what is Right, Just, and Fair can be debated. But I also know the closer we come to a compromise, the closer we come to what is Right and Just and Fair for everyone.

      We don’t want people to be forced to do what their religious beliefs don’t want them to do. We don’t want them baking cakes or taking pictures at an event they don’t believe in or want to be at. People should not be forced to give up their religious beliefs to accommodate someone else’s. We need to find a compromise that will keep this issue from being used to divide us. Issues such as this one are often used as a component to further a larger agenda to divide us even more and to sow the seeds of hate. Aren’t we the fools if we let others manipulate us into hating each other for their own gain?

      Let’s talk about a compromise when it comes to protecting people’s religious freedoms when they conflict with someone else’s religious beliefs. We know we don’t want someone to be forced to participate in an event their religious beliefs won’t allow. And on the other hand, people should not be forced to feel humiliated when being discriminated against when they are being denied products or services because of their religious beliefs. We need to find a way for everyone to be true to the God they believe in and not have people be forced to feel discriminated against and humiliated in public.

      But how do we do that? I used to think if you applied for a business license you would have to agree not to discriminate against those people whose rights are protected by law. How do we let a business owner say, I can’t sell you products or services because you are gay. I can’t plan your wedding because it is an interracial arrangement. I can’t make you a cake because you are Catholic. I can’t photograph your wedding because you are Jewish or Muslim? But the Supreme Court, in the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, weighed in and pretty much said business owners could use their religious beliefs as an excuse not to offer products or services to religious events they do not agree with. And I agree with them on the issue.

      I believe there is a way to protect both parties: one party from being forced to take part in a religious event they don’t believe in and protect the other party from feeling discriminated against by being refused products or services based on their religious beliefs.

      The solution is that, when applying for a business license, the applicant will need to decline or declare a need for an exemption from anti-discrimination laws based on their religious beliefs. These exemptions would only be granted to the business owner and the business as they pertain to a conflict with a consumer’s religious belief. The bottom line is a Place of Business would be granted an exemption from having to provide a product or service to be used at a religious event that is in conflict with the Business Owner’s religious beliefs. Publicly held companies would not be able to ascertain such an exemption, nor would a business be entitled to retain such an exemption once it has become a publicly traded company based on the diverse religious beliefs held by its shareholders.

      Once a business owner is granted an exemption, the business owner will need to display a sticker or placard at each point of entry to their place of business, including online websites. The sticker or placard will alert the potential customer to what types of

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