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259 Comments
- RainyDayNinja, on 05/03/2009, -9/+112Freedom of religion IS a human right.
- inactive, on 05/03/2009, -11/+89Huh. Funny how five of them are American allies.
- tavallai, on 05/03/2009, -21/+87I'd like to know a) what the criteria are, and b) why the US isn't on its own arbitrary-finger-pointing list for its institutional intolerance of the non-religious.
- GreyFlcn, on 05/03/2009, -18/+67Not to mention Freedom FROM religion.
- tim04, on 05/03/2009, -51/+97screw religious tolerance. how about human rights and freedoms first?
- nevetssav, on 05/03/2009, -3/+43Because this is a list about than just "intolerance," it's about downright oppression, actually. The US as a nation doesn't tend to condone that, even if, socially, Americans tend to distrust those who aren't christian.
- drewski526, on 05/03/2009, -10/+48Your name is EndIsraelRacism. You're going to call someone else biased?
Israel's religions: Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Gaza: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%
Sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world ...
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world ... - xshare, on 05/03/2009, -8/+44What the *****? In those countries named you can be killed, tortured and highly discriminated against for your religion (or lack there-of). America just passes a few laws you don't like. You're still free, you can do whatever the ***** you want, you can worship whoever the ***** you want, and noone will complain. The US should not be on any such list and even thinking that it should is just stupid. I'm a non-religious agnostic, and life in America is as easy as pie. Have some decency and respect those actually suffering from religious intolerance.
- Chooxo, on 05/03/2009, -8/+44Anyone making the "smart" comment that the US should be on that list, understand what being on that list implies. You may think there's religious intolerance in the US but it's hardly on the level you see in the countries listed.
Some of the USCIRF's reasoning can be found here: http://digg.com/u12JMm which really shows the contrast:
- The US government doesn't repress ethnic and religious minorities. They don't kill religious minorities, or arrest them. They don't restrict religious practice to government-approved religious associations and control the growth and activities of other religious groups.
- They don't deride religions and term them as "cults" and they don't abuse them. They don't detain members of unregistered religious groups, or torture people on account of their religion. They don't deny the holocaust and make anti-Semitic comments. Nobody is imprisoned on criminal charges of blasphemy.
- The government doesn't restrict a person's religious freedom. They don't repress public religious activities. They don't imprison and interrogate anyone who converts to a religion they don't approve of.
- They don't "ban all forms of public religious expression other than that of the government's own interpretation of one school of Sunni Islam" and don't interfere with private religious practice. They don't fund hate literature, and other activities that support religious intolerance and violence toward unapproved religions.
- The US government doesn't curtail the rights of visitors to the country based on their religion. They do not close down places of worship.
Jeez, guys, enjoy your freedom and count yourselves lucky you don't live in freakin' Saudi. - malex, on 05/03/2009, -0/+33Freedom of Conscience includes tolerance for non-believers as well.
Also, it's spelled "too." - EndIsraelRacism, on 05/03/2009, -47/+79No mention of Israel.
Bias much? - bumb1ebee, on 05/03/2009, -4/+34Some people on Digg are so sheltered and completely out of touch with reality that they would even dare to suggest that the United States be on the same list as these other countries that would literally murder you for having different beliefs. Hate America all you want but get some ***** perspective you spoiled, whiny douchebags.
- lamjester313, on 05/03/2009, -3/+33Possibly because Israel encourages religious freedom, gay rights, women's rights etc. etc.
Unlike some of its Middle Eastern neighbors - Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia... you get the point. - malex, on 05/03/2009, -3/+28Attacked for practicing personal religious beliefs, or attacked for ***** with other people's liberties?
Also, the list refers to governments that curtail religious freedom. People on tv making fun of you doesn't cut it. - SolitaireRose, on 05/03/2009, -9/+34However, every poll shows that if you don't believe in some supernatural superbeing, people don't trust you.
Poor religious people, they only get to run the government, businesses, media.... - Tanktunker, on 05/03/2009, -29/+54I think freedom from religion is more important.
- GraceHead, on 05/03/2009, -6/+28Goto Israel. Look on the temple mound in Jerusalem, and do you see a temple? NO. You see the Muslim dome of the rock.
It doesn't get alot more tolerant than that! - LIEL17, on 05/03/2009, -9/+31Well maybe if you would have read the article, you would realize it's referring to nations with "Worst RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE." If you knew anything about Israel you'd know it's one of the countries with the MOST tolerance for religion...Regardless of what you believe in regards to the "ethnic cleansing" (which is a load of crap to begin with), nobody living in Israel itself (Jews, Muslims, Christians) is complaining. They all practice religion freely, some -surprisingly Christians and Muslims - more than others.
- HEAVYisSPY, on 05/03/2009, -3/+23this is not to be confused with secularism. If you want the ten commandments taken out of the courtroom or blue laws repealed, you can cite the establishment clause. If you want to bulldoze down a church that you are forced to 'see' while driving to work, you're an authoritarian *****.
- BillE3, on 05/03/2009, -2/+22They allow freedom of religion to everyone including Islam.
- haydesigner, on 05/03/2009, -1/+20@ZhiZaki: "You are free to leave the room, office, building, city, county, state and finally country....as well as write letters to your representitives."
Well now, that is a remarkably tolerant attitude. - birch25, on 05/03/2009, -1/+19I'm an atheist in America and sometimes people don't like my position, but at no point is my life in danger. People in the countries on the list are literally risking their lives for exercising their religion. Freedom of religion and freedom from religion are the same thing but people who don't have serious problems approaching anything most people in the third world experience everyday don't see it that way.
These people risk their lives when they go to their place of worship. Were you scared for your life when you stay home from church this morning? - alex7575, on 05/03/2009, -4/+22I hate it how all those people in the US get murdered over their religious beliefs, and yet nothing gets done about it.
- dancecmdr, on 05/03/2009, -0/+18Exactly. The US isn't exactly perfect when it comes to human rights, but it's miles ahead of any country on that list.
- CaptOblivious, on 05/03/2009, -3/+20 Which bizarrro universe are you from?
- Rain12913, on 05/03/2009, -1/+18It's funny that you think biased media coverage constitutes religious intolerance. You are completely clueless. People are savagely tortured in most of the countries on that list for their religion, not just poked fun at in op-ed articles.
- MrBogard, on 05/03/2009, -1/+17Yes the United States is so intolerant of oh-so-many religions. That explains the free worship of practically every holy book you can think of... including ones written by sci-fi hacks!
- Nevarius, on 05/03/2009, -2/+18How about do what the ***** you want, as long as you don't ***** up other people.
- inactive, on 05/03/2009, -7/+22Christians pretty much control everything in this country. How the ***** could they possibly be oppressed unless they're oppressing themselves?
- Mothrog, on 05/03/2009, -5/+20North Korea is a US ally? How ***** retarded are you?
- masamunecyrus, on 05/03/2009, -0/+14@aargh01:
It's the CIA world factbook. This has nothing to do with foreign policy, he is citing STATISTICS. - inactive, on 05/03/2009, -0/+14"David's son Solomon completed the task of erecting the First Temple at the site in 960 BCE"
so that would be about 1500 years before mohammed was even born....... - BlacklabelSAR, on 05/03/2009, -2/+16"Athiesm is a Religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby."
- masamunecyrus, on 05/03/2009, -1/+15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Israel
"Israel has no constitution, but freedom of religion is anchored in law. Legal accommodation of the non-Jewish communities follows the pattern and practice of the Ottoman and British administrations with some important modifications. The religions officially recognized under Israeli law are: Eastern Orthodox, Latin (Roman Catholic), Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Catholic, Chaldean Catholic, Greek Catholic Melkite, Maronite, Syrian Orthodox and Judaism. Three additional communities have since been added to the list: Druze, Evangelical Episcopal, and Bahá'í.The fact that the Muslim population was not defined as a religious community is a vestige of the Ottoman era, when Islam was the dominant religion. The religious rights of the Muslim community are not affected by this, as even members of unrecognized religions are free to practice their religion." - 3The3Dude3, on 05/03/2009, -2/+16It's annoying that there are those that believe there preference to not practice religion trumps the right of those that do. They are 100% equal.
- bumb1ebee, on 05/03/2009, -6/+20So what if you can't be elected into office if you're an atheist? That doesn't mean you're being persecuted or oppressed, that just means your beliefs aren't in line with most of the voting population. You are free to be an atheist and no one will kill you for it and the government won't restrict your freedoms because of it. You have the right to run for office as an atheist but freedom is a two way street. People have the right to pass you up if you don't meet whatever criteria they set for their candidates.
I can't stand the victim mentality most atheists here on Digg have. I'm an atheist by the way so don't accuse me of being some sort of fundie. - MrBogard, on 05/03/2009, -1/+14@AgonyTuesday: And what PEOPLE do is hardly the point of this ***** list. I've said this like 80 times in this damned comment section already. If you can't remove personal hate from a geopolitical discussion than you're missing the damned point. People just want something to argue about, and arguing about US policy is constantly on the tips of their tongues.
They should ***** realize that all political extremism makes you a zealot, regardless of your affiliation, and grow the ***** up. Peoples religious views are NOT significantly oppressed by the government, and these factions do not have serious political power (anymore).
There are countries that are NOT on the CPC where religious intolerance has lead to mass executions and regional warfare and people think the USA belongs along side them. Throw in some half-assed comment about Israel and it's digg-comment-magic!
@Chooxo: Thank you, again, for being a voice of reason. - s0l0s0ul, on 05/03/2009, -9/+21To be clear, freedom OF and freedom FROM religion, are BOTH human rights.
- solid12345, on 05/03/2009, -0/+12Go ask the Druze in Israel where they would rather live, Saudi Arabia or Israel.
- Chooxo, on 05/03/2009, -2/+14Implying that the US belongs on the list makes a mockery of the people who actually are persecuted for their beliefs in the countries listed.
Maybe some Christians don't like that you're atheist, or maybe some atheists don't like that you're Christian, and maybe there's a little ill-feeling between people of different faiths and sub-faiths, but at least you're free to believe what you want.
Start complaining about the US when they arrest you based on your faith, or restrict the rights of unapproved religious groups, or shut down places of worship. - Tanktunker, on 05/03/2009, -1/+13Incidentally, I can promise you that most of the Jewish population is bothered more by the Orthodox Jewish community than the Israeli Muslims, Druze or Bedouin.
- ZeroCubed, on 05/03/2009, -6/+17I'm American.
I tend to distrust those that ARE christian. - monsieurginger, on 05/03/2009, -2/+13I don't think it says "chosen people" in any official Israeli document, such as the declaration of independence. Actually, I think evangelical christians use that term for Jews more than jews use that term for themselves. If Jews do use it, it is for comical reasons.
- s0l0s0ul, on 05/03/2009, -3/+14It is your right as a human to choose to believe in, or to choose not to believe in a religion; to have a life committed to, or free from religion. If you came into the world believing or not believing in something, it wouldn't be a right, it would be a "condition".
- Reebee52, on 05/03/2009, -3/+14Except the reason behind it isn't "They're muslims" it's "they're suspected terrorist that happen to be muslim." It's not like the U.S. is taking all the muslims in America and shackling them up.
I'm not saying the off shore prison is right, just that stating it's done for religious purposes is wrong. - inactive, on 05/03/2009, -0/+10I'm American. I am damn near Atheist.
I tend to get to know people, Christian or otherwise before I make a choice to trust or distrust them. - inactive, on 05/03/2009, -4/+14The flying spaghetti monster, LaVeyan Satanism, ect.. all born in America and it's founders did so in public. 9 of the nations listed would kill you for blasphemy. You don't see Richard Dawkins going to Iran about speaking publicly.
- Ymeg, on 05/03/2009, -3/+13They are not jailed because the are Muslim. They are jailed because they are considered terrorists.
- BlueCadenza, on 05/03/2009, -1/+11Digg isn't a country.
- Tanktunker, on 05/03/2009, -2/+12We have several Arab members of Knesset.
I don't recall eighteenth century US having any Black Senators or Congressmen.
I don't think Colonized South Africa had any Black politicians either.
British India didn't have too many native Indians in power either.
Israel isn't an Apartheid. -
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