Thread by @sometimesalight

Also, none of us should be surprised when people honestly think that their personal unease, discomfort, or "conviction" is sufficient grounds for a religious exemption.

The folks I know who think this way are not trying to game the system. They've just been raised in church traditions that centered their own personal experience of God as the defining reality of their faith.

I don't mean this cynically or jurdgmentally. But when people believe that the "priesthood of believers" means "primary interpreter" rather than "equal standing before Christ," they also can easily think that their "sense" about something comes directly from the Holy Spirit.

Consider this: If personal belief defines the countors of their faith, it's just one step over for them to confuse their personal discomfort w/ a particular protocol as a strongly-held "belief."

When belief is itself self-justifying, folks won't necessarily question what shaped a particular belief. Can they prove their position comes from religious teaching? That's beside the point. Just having the "belief" makes it religious for them & thus worthy of exemption.

All that to say, the religious exemption Q is a lot more complicated than saying "the Bible doesn't talk about XYZ therefore it can't be a religious exemption." That reasoning doesn't make sense to them b/c it wasn't about the Bible to begin with.

Instead the challenge is teaching people how to relate to their own consciences. It's about teaching them self-awareness & the reality that just b/c we feel or believe something deeply doesn't mean this is sufficient to claim it's religious or from God.

(***Insert all necessary disclaimers here. No, this doesn't apply to all people claiming religious exemptions. Yes, I believe in individual soul liberty. But soul liberty doesn't mean we don't have accountability. It just means we answer to *God* for our choices.

And quite frankly, the fear of God goes a long way in helping us sort thru what we're willing to take a stand about. Knowing I have to explain to him helps me make wise, loving decisions for both myself & my neighbors. So yes, please, let's talk more about soul liberty.)