I think the issue is freedom of association rather than freedom of religion.

The regressives think intolerance is a terrible thing, except of they're doing it, then it's wonderful and should be backed up by police and prisons.

It seems to me that the essay by Frederick Clarkson titled When The Exception Is The Rule: Christianity In The Religious Freedom Debate, puts the hysterical response of right-wing Christians (to almost everything about today's world) into a useful perspective.

As does the Political Research website on which it is featured.

Cobber the Hound,

Why do you hammer the "right wing religious" in the matter of homosexualiy? Does this group actually exist? Do you believe that all people who don't favour homosexual "marriage" hold their positions because of religion? Have you had any personal exposure to religious teaching? If not, what are your rules for life based on? How did you decide between moral behaviour and immoral behaviour?

Excellent questions, Carz - thank you!

<<The Kleins have not been asked to enter into a same sex relationship. How is their religious freedom at risk? Did they refuse to make cakes for couples who had previously lived together,...>>

Perhaps a saintly sage could tell what was in the Kleins' innermost heart-of-hearts when they refused their service, thus whether it was on religious grounds or otherwise, but neither yourself, nor do I - and certainly not any government, are in a position to make such judgements.

And therefore we should leave the matter, as Jardine just wrote, as an example of denying one's freedom of association.

Let all religious people therefore, strive and struggle as hard as we can for the universal freedom of association - yes, I'm aware that this also includes bikie-gangs and Muslim-Jihadists, but as that's the necessary price which we must pay for our freedom to worship God, we should gladly pay it.

Say a big YES to Cobber's questions!

@yuyutzu

i was under the impression that 'church' comes from the greek word 'ecclesia' meaning congregation or group of christians. I believed a temple is the building but the church is 'christian people in the world'. But I may be wrong, if not, wouldn't it mean that separation of church and state means separation of christians and state. It all get so confusing, lol

What I find curious is how some folks don't understand that saying, they don't make cakes for same sex weddings, is no different than saying we don't make cakes for folks from different ethnic backgrounds!

Given the darker of the two has the mark of cain on him or her and therefore offends our religious scruples, which could have been par for the course "Biblical" supported discrimination not that long ago.

Folks need to focus exclusively on their own morals rather than trying to police/judge those of others often on the back of patently misguided belief systems/value judgements.

I mean if one of the party had had gender reorientation surgery or dressed in drag and presented as a seemingly normal female or bewhiskered male, how would that make an ounce of a whit of a scaric of difference to the troubled cake maker; given nothing would had changed!

Except visual perception not the factual reality; and two people in love and wanting to spend their committed lives together in a sanctioned marriage! And poor buggers,finaly in genuine equality!

Could we ask for less than for our own son or daughter or sister or brother?

Rather than trying to punish/discriminate against them all of their long and lonely adult lives, for them daring to be born different!

Ask of yourself what you expect of them is doable for you, then consider these words from your bible!

Inasmuch as you do unto the least among you, you do also unto me!
Rhrosty.