Reply #56: Ok, I understand now

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

I misinterpreted your comments about Native Americans.

But how bad is it to lose a generation of kids -- to lose all membership, for that matter -- of a group that is abusing children and breaking laws? Isn't it better to remove kids from that situation so that they can grow up in a healthy environment rather than allowing a harmful environment to perpetuate? Would you feel sympathy for a family with no religious affiliation but with generations of sexual and child abuse who bemoan the loss of custody of children because the facts finally come to light? Because this is ALL about abuse, really, and not religion.

Another example: There are Dominionist Churches around where I live. They teach that only whites are the Chosen People and that the "mud people" are bad. However, they don't abuse their kids and don't advocate going out and killing minorities. So even though I find their beliefs totally repugnant, I feel they are protected by the First Amendment. If, however, they decided to abuse their children or start fire-bombing the few black families who live in the area, I'd want them persecuted to the fullest extent of the law.