I’ve often expressed the fervent hope that women take a long look at religion and leave it because it is unhealthy for us and an enemy of our human rights.<\/p>\n
So I was gratified and interested in Saturday’s New York Times “Belief” column, by Mark Oppenheimer, which tells the story of a young woman named Sarah Jones who, brought up in strict Christian fundamentalism, decided that she was a feminist and atheist.<\/p>\n
I highlighted one segment 0f the story and bolded one particular quote from her, because her description of the Hobby Lobby controversy is succinct and piercing:<\/p>\n
Now, at the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, based in Washington, Ms. Jones finds herself spending time with conservative Christians once again. For example, she has researched<\/a> the external activities<\/a> of Hobby Lobby\u2019s president, Steve Green, who shaped a Bible curriculum that he hopes will prove constitutional for use in public schools.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI am concerned about the Green family\u2019s broader agenda,\u201d Ms. Jones said.<\/em><\/p>\n As for the Hobby Lobby ruling, she found it a disturbing reminder of the community she had left behind. \u201cThe Green family\u2019s definition of religious liberty isn\u2019t drawn from the First Amendment,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s drawn from a belief common to the religious right: that they have a right to control the choices and moralities of other people.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The Supreme Five should have been paying attention to Ms. Jones.<\/p>\n The whole story of Ms. Jones’s journey out of religion is worth reading carefully, especially by women. Taking on Hobby Lobby After Turning Away From a Religious Past – NYTimes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’ve often expressed the fervent hope that women take a long look at religion and leave it because it is unhealthy for us and an enemy of our human rights. So I was gratified and interested in Saturday’s New York … Continue reading