Religious vs. Human Rights

I was so lucky to be in Paris for a couple weeks and have a dear friend tutoring me in French culture and perspective. In one conversation we were talking about religious freedoms and the ongoing issues that France is having with their Muslim population. 

To most Americans it seems outrageous that the French government would ban Muslim girls from wearing a Hijab in public schools.  To many of us this seems to break all rules of equality, religious freedom, and pluralistic values, not to mention points to down right discrimination.

My friend expressed to me that it is her understanding that some French view the Hijab, as well as other Islamic and other religious values, as oppressive towards women.  It is their perspective that the state's view of human rights  supercedes individual's ideas of religious freedom.  And that a neutrality needs to be kept in the public sphere.

To this i responded with a heartfelt AMEN!

I love the awareness that comes with new perspectives.  It is incredible how differently two cultures can view the separation of church and state.  This same value of equality is taken in polar opposite directions. Where does the responsibility of the state lie?  Is it in protecting human rights, or is it in protecting the rights to choose their values. 

And today the question is raised how does this dialogue change when children are involved?

Just tonight the awful story broke about of the widespread abuse taking place in a polygamous compound in Texas.  Clearly this situation is one in which there will be very little debate, polygamy is not a widely held value, and the abuse was so horrific, that of course the government needed to intervene. But what about the abuse that has taken place in the Catholic church?  What about the emotional and often physical abuse of gay and lesbian children growing up in religiously conservative homes?

And yet I find myself in a country where just this week a Illinois state legislator verbally attacked an atheist, saying "It’s [meaning the views of atheism] dangerous to the progression of this state. And it’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists.”  Listen to it here

So i find myself a little bewildered.  What role should the government have in raising the consciousness of a culture?  I could be persuaded to totally agree wtih France, if of course they actually are protecting girls from religious oppression... Go women's lib!  But is that really what is going on here?  Who decides what is oppressive (besides queen me!)

Wow, through all this back and forth, I have found myself so happy to be working in the field of religion rather than government (which just proves that i am culturally american, even as i adore the french!)  What better place than the Christian church is there to raise awareness, raise consciousness and help transform a culture.  In France it may be the role of the government, but here in the ole U.S. of A. I think the church has a great opportunity, now just how to get the churches to wake up!