In 1993 the federal government passed the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The law was intended to protect Native Americans in danger of losing their jobs because of religious ceremonies that involved the illegal drug peyote. In 1997 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress overstepped its bounds in passing RFRA in 1993, and that the law applied only to federal laws, not to those passed by the states. Since then 22 U.S. states have passed their own versions of the “religious freedom” laws. Supporters of the law argue that the government shouldn’t force religiou…
Read more@ISIDEWITH9yrs9Y
No
@KommieKillerKlan1yr1Y
They should be able to because this would be going against the owner's right to deny service, because the owner shouldn't have to go against their beliefs to serve a customer with that going against the right to freedom to practice religion. This would also conflict with the first amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"
@ISIDEWITH9yrs9Y
No, all customers deserve to be treated equally
@9FL7LHF8mos8MO
A private business owner should have the right to refuse service to any one that cause the owner to go against his or her own belief system. A business owner should not be forces to compromise his own integrity in order to appease a customer. They have the right to got somewhere else.
@9F9NJN38mos8MO
Private companies and individuals should not be forced to provide services to others if it is against their religious beliefs.
@KommieKillerKlan1yr1Y
They should be able to because this would be going against the owner's right to deny service, because the owner shouldn't have to go against their beliefs to serve a customer with that going against the right to freedom to practice religion. This would also conflict with the first amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"
@ISIDEWITH9yrs9Y
Yes, any business should be able to deny service for any reason
@9F7SDVS8mos8MO
Business owners can not use religion as a reason to refuse service because not everyone falls under the same religion so there's no reason they should be held to that religion's standards. For example, a Christian business owner may oppose gay marriage due to their religion, but a gay customer should not be penalized for not adhering to the owner's beliefs.
@9LYS2PP3wks3W
So you are saying that just because someone else does not subscribe to your religion you should just put it aside and give into their desire or request? That’s not how religion works. I wouldn’t go into a vegan restaurant and demand a burger…it’s the same thing.
@9F6GZ4Y8mos8MO
if the person is being rude or harassing other customers/employees then they should provide no service but religion should not matter at all.
@9GDPF927mos7MO
Business owners can not use religion as a reason to refuse service because not everyone falls under the same religion so there's no reason they should be held to that religion's standards. For example, a Christian business owner may oppose gay marriage due to their religion, but a gay customer should not be penalized for not adhering to the owner's beliefs.
@ISIDEWITH9yrs9Y
@ISIDEWITH9yrs9Y
@8HJR3JT4yrs4Y
No, but they may deny a requested service that goes against their beliefs
@WhatisaWoman?12mos12MO
I think that they should be able to refuse someone business for no reason at all, and the consumers can boycott them if they disagree. If you are forced to give someone business, that is called slavery.
@8DRTPH84yrs4Y
No, all customers deserve to be treated equally & they signed up for a job where they would have to interact with all people, which includes someone who disagrees with you& your beliefs
@5L48S8Z4yrs4Y
There's a fine line here - refusing service at a restaurant to a gay couple is not okay. Requesting a different seat on an airplane because you're forbidden to touch women you're not related to should be accommodated.
@9C9QDCC12mos12MO
No, but they should have the right to refuse a requested service
@5L8MPRK4yrs4Y
Yes so long as the denial is based solely upon the request and not the customer. I would not expect a devout religious baker to consent to baking "dick" cakes.
@4YSDTVQ4yrs4Y
It depends whether they're against the person and their beliefs or the thing they're asking- saying no because someone's gay would be bad, saying no because someone's asking you to carve a swastika in a locket and you're Jewish (or a decent human being) is acceptable
@5D675PP4yrs4Y
If it doesn't involve Healthcare, then yes
@5CKGWBX4yrs4Y
yes but not racially, ethnically or sexually
@8N6QGZS4yrs4Y
That’s just stupid, this shouldn’t be allowed
@5CXXB7L4yrs4Y
Flip the question. Customers can respect religious beliefs and not expect services that conflict with owners beliefs.
@9BHTTC71yr1Y
No, this would violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
@4YSSVXK4yrs4Y
No, once a person opens a business they are subject to non-discrimination laws just as everyone else.
@4XD552W4yrs4Y
No, everyone pays taxes, thereby supporting the very infrastructure that a business uses in the conduct of its business. Since all support the infrastructure, no one should be denied service due to the business owner's religious beliefs.
That's not how business works. Businesses are privately owned and reserve the right to deny a person business for almost any reason. I don't think people should be denied service because their personal choices conflict with the religious beliefs of the owners, but paying taxes doesn't guarantee access to private businesses. Paying taxes grants access to public services and the infrastructure itself, not everything build upon it.
That's not how business works. Businesses are privately owned and reserve the right to deny a person business for almost any reason. I don't think people should be denied service because their personal choices conflict with the religious beliefs of the owners, but paying taxes doesn't guarantee access to private businesses. Paying taxes grants access to public services and the infrastructure itself, not everything build upon it.
@8F6QQ6N4yrs4Y
No, but I wouldn't recommend still going to that business, because even though you are allowed there doesn't mean they can't treat you differently. I would want to feel welcomed, and that doesn't sound welcoming.
@9CL8H4211mos11MO
Yes, but only if the act of completing their business for a customer conflicts with their religion. If you don't believe in gay marriage and run a wedding planning business, you can deny a gay couple, but if you sell tires there is no basis for denying a gay person.
@9FTYYBW8mos8MO
“If you don't believe in gay marriage and run a wedding planning business, you can deny a gay couple”
Fair and free trade. Serve 1, serve all. Your feelings do not govern our society, laws do.
If you run a wedding planning business, and you live in America where gay marriage is legal, you can expect to have gay clientele AND if you don't want to serve them then perhaps you're in the wrong business. Why is it any different than selling a tire? A business is not a church. If you offer a service to 1 you must offer it to all regardless of your personal belief. As long as it is legal, business should be conducted as normal. Keep your emotions and personal beliefs to yourself. They are NOT the law of the land.
@RadiantSnipeLibertarian8mos8MO
You bring up some valid points about equal service and the separation of personal beliefs from business practices. However, consider the concept of conscientious objection, which has been recognized in various professional fields. For example, a doctor may refuse to perform an abortion based on their religious beliefs, even though it is a legal procedure. Similarly, a business owner may argue that they are exercising their right to religious freedom when they choose not to participate in activities that contradict their religious beliefs. What are your thoughts on this comparison?
@9BN5DVK1yr1Y
@92WZL5R2yrs2Y
Yes, but if it does not conflict with protected classes, such as race, gender, etc
This is good in theory, but sounds like it could turn into a bunch of lawsuits, in which some jerk from a protected class acts a fool and then turns around and calls their denial of service some kind of bigotry. Depending on the leaning of the jury/judge and availability of witnesses, this could cause a lot of headache for proprietors who were not in any way bigoted. Sort of how the rental market has turned into “first come, first serve” regardless of good fit as a tenant - in order to avert potential discrimination suits. This leads to absurd barriers to application for qualified tenants, as landlords attempt to manage their legal liability and simultaneously avoid bad tenants with sweeping over-the-top requirements that alienate a lot of the working class.
@Childlife4yrs4Y
It depends. A business should be able to refuse to perform a particular request that conflicts with their beliefs, but should not be able to deny service to a customer due to prejudice against the person. Small business and the owner needs to make it clear to the patrons what services they will not provide due to their religious beliefs (through a posted sign perhaps) from the day the business starts but still not deny service to a person unless they are disruptive in the functioning of the business or become dangerous to those in the area. It is the owner's responsibility to make custo… Read more
@8LD2PTD4yrs4Y
yes, but if it has to do with race/color no
@Patriot-#1776Constitution6mos6MO
I hate all this "Yes, BUT"s most Americans say. Either you believe in liberty or you don't. I hate racism just as much as you do. But just because I hate it doesn't mean the government can tell other businesses not to practice it. That's a slippery-slope – a departure from liberty in one instance becomes precedent for a second, the second for a third, until the entire Republic is reduced to despotism. Paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson there. We all need to seriously evaluate why we have exceptions to liberty and how those "Yes, BUT"s can lead us down the road to tyranny. It's time for some self-examination and scrutinising.
@94K3QKT2yrs2Y
Yes, but not for reasons that are related to someone's identity (gender, religion, sexual orientation)
@9GT4PW87mos7MO
Businesses shouldn't be allowed to deny service over religious beliefs, but if they were Nazis or something absolutely.
@8JWQQNX4yrs4Y
No but the government cannot really control that
@9BPLRKH1yr1Y
if the customer is forcing their beliefs on the owner
@86ZDHQ7Independent2yrs2Y
Yes, but the people can choose to boycott those business - the right to assemble should be protected as well!
@8YWHRD92yrs2Y
We shouldn't force people to do things that are against their beliefs, even though we should support them questioning and thinking more critically about their beliefs, but businesses should take great care to not disrespect or dehumanize any customers.
@8XH7G38Republican3yrs3Y
Businesses should not be forced to do anything that goes against their religious beliefs. A customer can go to a different business.
@8SFKZRR3yrs3Y
Yes, they technically can, however they must face the backlash shown through their discrimination. Also, this should only apply to small businesses, and not large corporations. If happening at a small business, then the person being denied service can take their business elsewhere and encourage others not to support that business.
@8PB7GJS4yrs4Y
Yes, but only on specialized, contracted work. Never on day to day commerce and also not based on race, color, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation.
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