And religious principles are more important now than actual principles?
Most religions are just an idea coined in the iron age, it shouldn't have protection under law. And more importantly someone's chosen religion shouldn't have power over someone else.
Umm, principles are just principles, religious or otherwise. Naming something a "religious" principle is just a way of saying "your principles are bullshit because they are religious".
I don't even go to church but I have to argue this stuff.
Look, I've met some of the nicest people who just happen to go to Church every Sunday. I had to fire my kid's Piano teacher because he couldn't keep his professional duties and religious belief's in balance. So what I am saying is that I'm not strongly vested one way or the other. But while I don't have some sort of personal iron in the fire, I think it's short-sighted to simple dismiss things because they have the smell of religon on them. Sometimes there are good, compassionate, sensible, fair, and intelligent people who simply gravitate towards a church. The sit in the same pews with a few idealogs and zealots too. I just think some people don't get the strong relationships and support mechanisms the exist because of Churches and all the good that they do manage to pull off in the world.
It's not just pogroms and crusades, there's work to be done, it can't all be just the fun stuff