Reply #68: If people must keep their religion to themselves

[hfojvt]

then why not their personal beliefs as well?

Matthew 6: 5 says to "pray" in private, but it does not say to keep religion private. How could it when Jesus himself was publicly preaching? He was not keeping his religion private.

I guess my signature quote is offensive too since Jimmy did not have consideration for people at Ford's funeral who may not believe what he believes. Likewise Jesse Jackson, when he began his speech to the Democratic National Convention in 1984, with:
"Tonight we come together bound by our faith in a mighty God, with genuine respect and love for our country, and inheriting the legacy of a great party, the Democratic Party, which is the best hope for redirecting our nation on a more humane, just and peaceful course."

Or Al Gore, when he said this:
"I think the purpose of life is to glorify God. I turn to my faith as the bedrock of my approach to any important questions in my life."

Asked if he thought religion should be kept private, he said:
"I think that we have gone too far in conveying the impression that those in public life are obligated to refrain from ever acknowledging that they have a spiritual life and that they have a set of core beliefs. And I refuse to abide by that mis-what I regard as a misguided set of expectations. I freely acknowledge the role of faith in my life and the centrality of faith in my values system."

It is quite likely that the kid would protest somebody who thanked Allah, or maybe just boo them, but in that case he would be on your side. Islam is perhaps as offensive to him as Christianity and Islam and Judaism are to you. And whether he is or is not a 'little sh*t', it is not very tactful to say so.