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Obviously you have never seen the state in action. Under American law, a belief that is contrary to public policy can be held only so long as it is not translated into action. Let me give you an example on a petty matter. Hence, a public school teacher CAN lose her job if she chooses to read the Bible at her desk even if no students are present in the classroom. This is not true everywhere; the pernicious thing is that her action can, however, become illegal if the school has a well-established policy, wishes to pursue the issue, and the teachers is foolish enough to disobey. Ther right of a public school to set policy normally trumps religious liberty. In the world of "ordered liberty," religious liberty occupies a lower position than many other liberties.

I repeat again: the state cannot force anyone to violate his or her religious beliefs. Our freedom of conscience is an inalienable right, part and parcel with our free will.

Now, that being said, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU MAY NOT FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR ADHERING TO YOUR CONVICTIONS. Consider the case of Thomas More. The state may pressure you, but they cannot coerce you. They can only persecute you and/or kill you. If you give in to the pressure, you are making a free will choice. If you, like More, stand up to the pressure, you make a free will choice. The question is, are you prepared to suffer persecution for your beliefs?

The state may pressure you, but they cannot coerce you. They can only persecute you and/or kill you. If you give in to the pressure, you are making a free will choice. If you, like More, stand up to the pressure, you make a free will choice. The question is, are you prepared to suffer persecution for your beliefs?

If you want to put it that way. Yeah sure, they can only torture and kill you. But let's examine what you said in 6411

Abortion is evil. I believe it is murder and should be covered under those statutes. Let's consider a fuzzier case, though. Catholics also believe that contraception is a sin. Do you think the church should pressure the state to outlaw contraception?

Shouldn't the Church in the question of More, or Prohibition, or anything, make its voice heard to the local gov't? Nay, shouldn't it demand that the gov't follow the dictates of God?