How Are Christians Discriminated Against?

[Commodore]

After a quick skimming of the "Blame A Christian" thread, I noticed that the theme seems to be that Christians are somehow discriminated against in Western societies.

Basically, I want those who feel that way to explain, in detail, exactly how Christians are discriminated against in any Western society. I also want you to provide examples of said discrimination.

Acceptable examples of discrimination are as follows:

-Anti-Christian legislation proposed by an actual elected official
-Unlawful denial of employment solely based on religious preference
-Unlawful denial of education solely based on religious preference
-Unlawful denial of housing solely based on religious preference
-Government seizures of church property for the sole purpose of limiting Christianity's influence
-Government sanctioned violence against Christian individuals, businesses, or establishments

All examples must also be from the last 15 years as well. So that's 1997 until now for those who don't want to do the math.

Unacceptable examples of discrimination are as follows:

-Any acceptable example older than 15 years
-A blogger or any other media personality saying something bad about Christians
-Legislation that goes against Christianity's idea of morality
-Criticisim of any Christian church, dogma, or official
-Anti-Christian legislation proposed by anyone who is not an elected official nor has any influence over the law-making process

I look forward to the responses.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

Surprised you didn't put this in the chamber.

But yeah, I got nothin'.

 

[Commodore]

Surprised you didn't put this in the chamber.

But yeah, I got nothin'.

I put it here because I know there is no way this is going to maintain the level of civility that The Chamber requires.

EDIT: I would also like to caveat the 15 year requirement: You may include an example older than 15 years if it is still actively enforced currently. An example would be legislation signed into law before 1997 that is still in force in 2012.

 

[useless]

They aren't, unless asking for them to keep their views on homosexuality and other issues to themselves, somehow counts as discrimination.

Or asking them not to be bigoted.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Well, since you didn't put a geographic limit on it, it seems incredibly simple to come up with endless examples.

 

[Azale]

They tend to have a victim complex, fostered by social and scientific progress and manipulated by politicians and other political "personalities", as far as the US is concerned.

 

[Commodore]

Well, since you didn't put a geographic limit on it, it seems incredibly simple to come up with endless examples.

I did put a limit on it, I said examples in Western societies. That generally includes the Americas and Europe.

 

[emzie]

Well, if you look outside the US... Christians are certainly persecuted. Within the US? Not so much. Having to watch gays have civil rights recognized does not compare to Copts being discriminated against or converts being executed.

 

[Save_Ferris]

What you're thinking of could be classified as "legal discrimination". When I refer to Christian discrimination, I'm usually referring to "social discrimination". That generally implies people, especially on this forum, questioning my beliefs or making assumptions about me based on my religion. This happens more frequently to Atheists, but I am against discrimination in all forms.

 

[Commodore]

Well, if you look outside the US... Christians are certainly persecuted. Within the US? Not so much. Having to watch gays have civil rights recognized does not compare to Copts being discriminated against or converts being executed.

Is that happening in Western societies, and if so can you provide details? I'm not doubting you, I would just like to see the evidence of this.

 

[emzie]

Is that happening in Western societies, and if so can you provide details? I'm not doubting you, I would just like to see the evidence of this.

Not that I'm aware of. Sorry I accidentally skipped over the western part of your OP.

Perhaps banning home schooling for religious reasons or not allowing religious private schools could count, but it seems pretty weak.

 

[Leonel]

I guess Christians use the banning of public prayer in public schools thing as evidence but theologically one isn't even supposed to pray in public.

 

[Antilogic]

I guess Christians use the banning of public prayer in public schools thing as evidence but theologically one isn't even supposed to pray in public.

Individuals are still free to pray if they want, it's just that public educators are not allowed to lead classes in prayer. There are a few cases where schools have overreacted to a student praying, but nothing that constitutes a systematic pattern of discrimination. Nothing that compares to slavery, segregation, or any of the actual instances of mass discrimination in this country's past.

 

[Ironsided]

In Sweden they are laughed at, and it's not nice.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

We're all laughed at. It's good. Keeps your feet on the ground.

 

[Commodore]

What you're thinking of could be classified as "legal discrimination". When I refer to Christian discrimination, I'm usually referring to "social discrimination". That generally implies people, especially on this forum, questioning my beliefs or making assumptions about me based on my religion. This happens more frequently to Atheists, but I am against discrimination in all forms.

I think that's where you and I differ. Social discrimination sucks, but I don't see it as something worth complaining about because it doesn't abridge any of your rights. It's basically just people being jerks.

Legal discrimination is definitely worth making a big stink over because now we are talking about the actual denial of freedom for a group of people just because the powers that be don't like them.

 

[Ironsided]

We're all laughed at. It's good. Keeps your feet on the ground.

Being "new" and all I need a mentor will you lend a shoulder then the wind pick up?

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

Being "new" and all I need a mentor will you lend a shoulder then the wind pick up?

Three things to remember about OT:

1. Ghostwriter and Useless are mortal enemies.
2. MisterCooper is a troll.
3. Always listen to the guy with an anime avatar.

Spoiler :

Of course I mean Crezth!

 

[ParkCungHee]

I did put a limit on it, I said examples in Western societies. That generally includes the Americas and Europe.

Oh, hurp durp I missed that.
In that case, all I got is follows of the One True Christian Church being persecuted in the UK, and schismatics being persecuted in Former Yugoslavia.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Does Israel count as "Western society"?

How about select Christians being banned from the UK?