Reply #26: I sort of have a problem with religion being given the same status ...

[daedalus_dude]

...as things like gender, skin color or sexual orientation.

I think following a religion is a choice. But that's just me. Alot of religious people would probably disagree.

Is it bigotry if you discriminate against admirers of a particular renaissance artist? Can that admirer have chosen otherwise?

I think religions are even more problematic because they are not "value-neutral". Following a religion is more than liking a particular artist because it comes with a set of values and assumptions about nature that you can agree or disagree with.

Personally, I can have friendly conversations with people who are religious. But I will call them out on anything from their belief system that I think defies logic or observation. If they think that is discrimination, I don't see any base for further conversations.

I think employers should have a right to refuse to hire someone if it is obvious that this person will insist on following specific religious practices that will interfere with them doing the specific job that they are being hired for.

Overall, I think the allegations of "anti-religious bigotry" are overblown. Historically the religious institutions have been a primary source of intolerance, and most of discrimination
against particular religions is done by other religions.

I think a person definately has the right to reject all of religion entirely.