Earlier TA articles here and then also here.
Rosalind English wrote at UK Human Rights Blog Are Christians really marginalised in this country?
Frank Cranmer has given a reply to her in his article at Law and Religion UK Marginalised Christians? Chaplin, Eweida, McFarlane and Ladele – again. He also links to some other relevant articles.
The weekly roundup article at UK Human Rights Blog by Sam Murrant Azelle Rodney, Gay Rights and the Cabinet Shuffle – The Human Rights Roundup discusses the cases at some length (scroll down to Christians in the margins) again with links to a number of other articles.
Rosalind English wrote: “But this is a non-sequitur. You can choose your religion. Race, gender, sexual orientation and disability are immutable.” And surely this reply is specious: the reason we don’t allow discrimination based on race is not that race “can’t be helped,” and therefor must be tolerated, is it? Rather, we don’t allow racial prejudice because there is no difference in worth or ability between the various races. I put it to Ms English that even if it became possible easily to switch races or genders or sexual orientations, it would still be incumbent on society to insist that… Read more »
In same breath as eshewing the idea that actions arising from religious belief should be accorded *greater* exemption than those arising from non-theistic values, Rosalind English accords religion a *lesser* status with respect to other characteristics because (she claims) it differs by involving choice. So, first she oppose a hierarchy that privileges religious belief above secular values, but then she privileges race, gender, sexual orientation and disability above religion: ‘You can choose your religion. Race, gender, sexual orientation and disability are immutable’. In fact, our society accepts that even a person’s birth gender is not immutable, but that it may… Read more »
Saying that religion deserves less protection because mutable is looking at it in the wrong way and is quite muddled thinking.
I think that’s the wrong way to analyse the issues. It’s the employment that’s mutable not the religion and that’s the key point.
“but then she privileges race, gender, sexual orientation and disability above religion: ‘You can choose your religion. Race, gender, sexual orientation and disability are immutable’.”
Rosalind’s only mistake here is that ‘gender’ can be modifed – in cases of marginal gender identity. for all the other factors; they have, indeed, been present in humanity before the emergence of any religious affiliation.
“In fact, our society accepts that even a person’s birth gender is not immutable, but that it may be altered through gender reassignment.”
So I take you’re an activist for transgender equality then, DavidS? That’s the only reason I can think of that you would cite this.
JCF: It makes sense to consider Ms. English’s views on immutable characteristics from standpoint of the existing legislative framework, rather than religious standpoint, hence my phrasing: ‘our society accepts…’ . To reason with a secularist from an orthodox theological position on the relative status of religious identity would appear to beg the question somewhat. Liberty rights can and should be accorded to all without regard to religion, race, gender or sexual orientation. Claim-rights should be accorded to those who qualify for them, so I won’t be campaigning for men to be granted maternity leave equality. They are entitled to the… Read more »