Would a muslim baker produce a custom cake that said “Jesus is the Son of God”?
Would an atheist bake a custom cake with a verse from Psalm 14:1 “ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.”
time for some expanded “public accommodation” test cases
Would an atheist bake a custom cake with a verse from Psalm 14:1 “ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.”
time for some expanded “public accommodation” test cases
That is actually a very good question.
What if a couple of Christians walk into a bakery run by an atheist and pro-gay rights baker and wants to have a special sheet cake made for their anti-gay marriage rally? The cake would have Bible quotes on it and perhaps something like “Homos Are Evil”. And what if that baker told the Christian, “Sorry, I don’t want to make that cake, you need to go to another bakery shop”.
I’d like to think the Christians would do just that; go find another baker who is more than happy to decorate their cake as they want it, a Christian baker or even another baker was also an atheist and pro-gay marriage but quite frankly doesn’t care and was more than happy to make whatever they wanted and happy to take their money. And that’s what the gay couple should have done IMO.
But somehow I think that wouldn’t necessarily be the case.
I can see the headlines now posted on FR: “Christians Discriminated Against For Their Beliefs”, “Christians Refused Service”, “The War on Christianity Continues”, “Boycott This Anti-Christian Baker And Put Him Out Of Business”.
Personally I do not think that a Christian baker should be forced to make a wedding cake for a gay wedding if that conflicts with his religious beliefs. I don’t think any privately owned business should be forced by the government to accommodate and serve customers that they don’t want to serve for whatever or any reason.
That would include things that run contrary to my personal principals like refusing to serve people because of their race or gender, political affiliation, etc.
Should an anti-gun rights baker be forced to make a cake decorated with AK47’s for a gun range? Can a Muslim tow truck driver refuse to tow a car driven by a single scantily clad woman because that conflicts with his religious beliefs? Should a Jewish kosher deli be forced to make a ham sandwich? Can a BBQ restaurant owned by a black couple, refuse to seat and serve white people?
At the end of the day, if I’m going to be consistent, I’d have to say yes. But understanding this, I also have to accept that perhaps one day I’m going to be refused service.