Freedom and Religion

Get Outlook for Android From: John Ames Birch Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2021 6:13:02 PM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; antonio.ferrari@un.org <antonio.ferrari@un.org>; Rota, Anthony - Riding 1 <Anthony.Rota.C1@parl.gc.ca>; ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca <ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>; beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr <beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; correspondence@council.nyc.gov <correspondence@council.nyc.gov>; ctvottawa@ctv.ca <ctvottawa@ctv.ca>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; dan@jpost.com <dan@jpost.com>; eurohealthycities@who.int <eurohealthycities@who.int>; English@mail.gov.cn <English@mail.gov.cn>; education@nasa.gov <education@nasa.gov>; edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov <edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov>; edumitru@amnesty.ca <edumitru@amnesty.ca>; Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca <Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca>; Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca <Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca>; fkalmbach@theadvocate.com <fkalmbach@theadvocate.com>; FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov <FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov>; Fisher, Gordon <gfisher@postmedia.com>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; govpress@la.gov <govpress@la.gov>; govsec@nanoq.gl <govsec@nanoq.gl>; HaveYourSay <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>; HaveYourSay <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>; help@ellentube-support.com <help@ellentube-support.com>; health@ctv.ca <health@ctv.ca>; info@bnn.ca <info@bnn.ca>; Info@hc-sc.gc.ca <Info@hc-sc.gc.ca>; Info@PMOindia.gov.in <Info@PMOindia.gov.in>; investorrelations@3M.com <investorrelations@3M.com>; Info@narendramod.in <Info@narendramod.in>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>; jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca <jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>; KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov <KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov>; Kate Brown For Oregon Information <info@katebrownfororegon.com>; kdundar@hdn.com.tr <kdundar@hdn.com.tr>; letters@jpost.com <letters@jpost.com>; letters@theaustralian.com.au <letters@theaustralian.com.au>; letters@lasvegassun.com <letters@lasvegassun.com>; LetsDoThis@ellentv.com <LetsDoThis@ellentv.com>; lansing@mlive.com <lansing@mlive.com>; media@sputniknews.com <media@sputniknews.com>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; minister.edu@ontario.ca <minister.edu@ontario.ca>; matt.eldredge@kolotv.com <matt.eldredge@kolotv.com>; mediainquiries <mediainquiries@who.int>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; newsonline@ctv.ca <newsonline@ctv.ca>; news@thelocal.se <news@thelocal.se>; News@KelownaNow.com <News@KelownaNow.com>; ogawah@wpro.who.int <ogawah@wpro.who.int>; Oprah@oprah.com <Oprah@oprah.com>; osd.pentagonpressbadges@mail.mil <osd.pentagonpressbadges@mail.mil>; online@theaustralian.com.au <online@theaustralian.com.au>; PARIS-MEDIA@international.gc.ca <PARIS-MEDIA@international.gc.ca>; premier@gov.pe.ca <premier@gov.pe.ca>; pm_eng@pmo.gov.il <pm_eng@pmo.gov.il>; public-inquiries@hq.nasa.gov <public-inquiries@hq.nasa.gov>; Robert.g.daniels@cbp.dhs.gov <Robert.g.daniels@cbp.dhs.gov>; ryan.schleeter@greenpeace.org <ryan.schleeter@greenpeace.org>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; Secretary@HHS.gov <Secretary@HHS.gov>; submit@calgaryherald.com <submit@calgaryherald.com>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; thisweek@abc.com <thisweek@abc.com>; travis.nichols@greenpeace.org <travis.nichols@greenpeace.org>; tracy.mcphee@gov.yk.ca <tracy.mcphee@gov.yk.ca> Subject: Freedom and Religion (Opinion) Hey everyone, I have been reading a lot about religious freedom being argued to allow people to discriminate against others and I'm sickened by it. I am offended that you choose to rope God into your hate when God is love. Think back to all the prophets, messiahs, apostles and messengers. They didn't come to deny us or disregard us, they came to love us. Within each religion lies the common core of love, of seeking the divine heartbeat to heartbeat. Faith is about love, love for God and for all Gods creatures. To see beyond ourselves and to look at others for possibilities not problems. I believe in a kind, merciful and loving God. One who sent their only begotten son to save us from ourselves. This God is not one of hate but one who holds the infinite potential of love. You cannot use your faith to hide behind your fear as you weaken that faith when you do. You cant pick and choose which parts of faith suit you and disregard others that don't. The bible says to love thy neighbor, it doesn't say love thy straight, white or cis neighbors but all your neighbors. For those who tell me that it's in the bible so it must be followed have forgotten that many things in the bible are outlawed. For example, women are not allowed to speak in church, eating shellfish is outlawed, wearing blended fabrics or having sex before marriage. As we all know these things occur everyday by practitioners of faith. When you pick and choose what to follow and use fear and discrimination in a faith that has always practiced love, its hypocrisy and sacrilege. Faith is supposed to be kind, it's supposed to be love in practice and when you use hate or intolerance and hide behind faith, you cheapen that faith for all if us. God is love. It's time that we see beyond hate or intolerance and look to the example left to us by many prophets. We are meant to love one another. Don't hate, celebrate or educate. Stay safe, stay sanitized and stay supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2