Frankly I expected a lot more from you rather than having to present a straw man argument in a futile attempt to deny another person the right to express their religious beliefs.
Further it is nothing more than irrelevant logic on your part, the type of logic that the English court has taken nonetheless.
So what if someone makes money off of selling rings. Do you think that the Muslim hijabs and Hindu bangles just magically appear out of the air? Surely someone is making some money off of that little scam as well huh?
I guess catching one of the Pakistani girls with dubious links to a hijab factory or selling hijabs out of the boot of her car would be sufficient grounds for banning hijabs in the school - What do you think?
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"Comparing this money-making, MTV-style religion to the martyrdom of three girls in Indonesia is appalling, in my opinion."
What religion is that Christianity? Appalling would be belittling the religious devotion of someone and then alleging that their devotion is solely founded in their own selfish financial aspirations - I'll bet you are a lot of fun at the church bake sales.
The issue is about freedom - and as such the Indonesian girls make a perfect analogy - the Indonesians used a machete to deny someone freedom and the Brits chose to use a court - the purpose is the same.
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"England is an officially Christian country. The idea that Christians are somehow facing undo oppression under its government is patently absurd."
England is hardly a Christian country anymore - they have embroiled themselves in an 'orgy of political correctness and multiculturalism' just as the United States has done.
Ask any English person you want and then listen to their preprogrammed newspeak - they will all deny that they are a Christian country.... for the fear of well... ya know offending anyone who happens to not be a Christian.
The situation has become so bad that even the Pope has no comment on the matter - I guess you disagree with his conclusion as well dont you.
I think that's possibly the worst argument I've read on Free Republic in weeks. To paraphrase a Famous Person, he who is without strawmen should cast the first snide remark. To address your "point": hijabs are just scarves; there is no such thing as a "hijab factory." Lot's of women have scarves. It's how and why you wear them that matters.
Are you implying that bake sales are a form of religious devotion? I guess it depends on what people are putting in the brownies. The bottom line — no pun intended — is that this particular expression of "religious devotion" requires the purchase of a £10 ($20) silver ring. Christianity isn't supposed to have a cover charge; it's not Scientology. Maybe you believe it's OK to make a little cash on the side when you're promoting Christian values, but not everyone shares your belief. Let me quote some people who would probably frown on the "buy this ring to show your Christian faith" concept:
Acts 8 (NRSV): 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit
16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, "Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money!
21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness."
24 Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me."
Lydia Playfoot was not executed for wearing her ring to school. If you can't see how that weakens your analogy... well... you need some kind of professional help.
The Pope had no comment... I'm hard-pressed to agree or disagree with no comment.
As a Christian, I consider it my sacred duty to bring the light of our Lord, Jesus Christ, to a world in desperate need of it. Other people consider it their sacred duty to bring t-shirts and other merchandise to the world in the name of Jesus. I guess I should embrace them in the spirit of syncretism, but as the Pope urged, I love my own traditions too much to cheapen them by putting a marketing stunt on the same level as martyrdom.
Anyway, I'm starting to repeat myself, and at this point all I'm doing is — to put it in parlance appropriate to the context of "Silver Ring Thing" — stomping on your buzz. Far be it from me to rob you of your self-righteousness. Just a final suggestion: try plain old righteousness some time.
Peace be with you.