The Potomac Declaration

[Cartoonist]

Every person everywhere has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Every person has the right to hold any faith or belief, or none at all, and enjoys the freedom to change faith.

https://www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/religiousfreedom/284554.htm

Both Pompeo and Pence were party to this. Go figure. I expected something else from that ministerial they held last week.

[Major Nikon]

1. Their motivation is to support Christian proselytizing in non-Christian countries

Meanwhile Pence and Trump are funneling millions of dollars to organizations who buy bibles for proselytizing under the veil of "humanitarian" aid.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/asoka-bandarage/proselytism-or-a-global-e_b_6779640.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. This would be more convincing if they didn't claim " a God-given human right"

deriving your rights from a monotheistic claim is not a good start to a freedom of religion claim.

[Major Nikon]

3. Religious freedom only works one way for them

If you read the other thread, you’ll see that their true motivation is to weaponize Christianity.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1218290029

It’s really the same story repeated throughout recorded history. You force other countries to accept your religion and you use that influence for a political and social advantage. Then they can’t understand why countries like China place restrictions on proselytizing.

[Cartoonist]

4. Something different

I think Jeff is doing his own thing unrelated to the ministerial. Or, they may become intertwined later.

They announced a plan of action that is similar to what the UN came up with. Namely, a ban on blasphemy laws. The usual countries balk as usual.

States should promote religious freedom and bring their laws and policies into line with international human rights norms regarding freedom of religion or belief. In that spirit, states should work to:

Protect freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief and ensure individuals can freely change beliefs, or not believe, without penalty or fear of violence, and encourage the repeal of provisions penalizing or discriminating against individuals for leaving or changing their religion or belief.

[Major Nikon]

5. I disagree

This has been the GOP game plan at least since the Bush administration. So while NATO may be genuinely in favor of religious freedom, the zealots are simply going to channel that effort for their own agenda, which is exactly the opposite of religious freedom.

[Cartoonist]

6. Would you agree

To first begin proselytizing, you have to overcome the state religion.

[Major Nikon]

7. More precisely you have to overcome blasphemy laws

Blasphemy laws primarily target those who want to proselytize. Those who simply want to practice their own religion or lack thereof are seldom bothered by them.

So it's really more about the freedom to promote a specific religion.

[Cartoonist]

8. Nothing wrong with ending blasphemy laws

One of the stops on the way to the New Atheism.

[Major Nikon]

9. Nothing in the declaration says anything about ending blasphemy laws

They aren't trying to end blasphemy laws, but to keep them from being enforced against Christians.

Do you think the current state department is going to defend someone promoting atheism, or an atheist protesting theocracy? We can't even get our own justice department to enforce the establishment clause.

[Cartoonist]

10. From the Potomac Plan of Action

https://www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/religiousfreedom/284555.htm

Repeal anti-blasphemy laws, which are inherently subjective, and often contribute to sectarianism and violent extremism. Enforcement of such laws unduly inhibits the exercise of the rights to freedoms of religion, belief, and expression and leads to other human rights violations or abuses.

[Major Nikon]

11. The ministerial has exactly zero authority in the State Dept

They are little more than a collection of almost exclusively religious people rounded up to add a bow on a package that has a clear purpose. When the State Dept actually takes action to defend persecuted atheists, I might have confidence in their intentions. I won’t be waiting up for that to happen.