August 11, 2017

The Texas Legislature's just-ended 85th session included bills that allow religion-based exemptions to certain laws, leading some to wonder how the term "sincerely held religious beliefs" is defined. Ultimately, we rely far more on general cultural norms as to what we wish to tolerate at a given time.

The Texas Legislature's just-ended 85th session included bills that...

Outmoded ideas

Regarding letter to the editor "Christian faith" (Page A13, Tuesday), no one is asking the Rev. F.N. Williams to abandon his apparently fervently-held beliefs; he's just being asked to not use them as a reason to discriminate against people who don't meet his rigid standards for "appropriate" behavior, including transgender folks.

As for showing your birth certificate before being allowed to use the restroom; who's going to enforce that? As far as I know, there is no Department of Potty Police, nor should there be. Rev. Williams, you are not being "classed" as a bigot because, as you state, "I will not allow transgenders....to change my faith and practices." You are being classed as a bigot because you fail to see the difference between belief and behavior. Beliefs are simply that: beliefs. They should not be used as WMDs because you disagree with another person's behavior. The reverend's narrow concept of human behavior is a dangerous precursor to imposing disconnected standards of behavior to outmoded ideas.

Neal Massey, Houston

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Life choices

Rev. Williams states "The highest law of the land is God's law; not national, not state, not local laws..."

Believers of all faiths will agree that ultimately, God's law is supreme. However, because our varying faiths understand God's laws differently, it is left to our nation of men and women to create laws that recognize that diversity in our faith traditions. It is up to each individual to follow their own religious teachings about God's law in his or her own life choices and actions; however, it is up to our government to protect each individual's rights regarding those choices and actions.

Nancy Pryzant Picus, Houston

Secular laws rule

The highest law of this land is the U.S. Constitution. As the United States is a democratic republic, I do not have to follow any religious laws (Christian, Judaic, Islamic or any other faith) unless I subscribe to that faith and its tenets. On the other hand, I must obey all the secular laws (federal, state or local - whichever jurisdiction applies to me) or I can be sanctioned. No such sanctions can be imposed on me should I not following some specific religious law. This country is not now, nor has ever been, a theocracy.

Len Denney, Houston

See the original post:
Saturday letters: Different beliefs - Houston Chronicle