One of the more interesting forms of argument is called reducto ad absurdum, which involves taking an otherwise good proposition and argue for carrying it to ridiculous extremes. An example might be to counter someones argument in favor of abortion, for example, by asking if there should be any limits to it at all. The first trimester? The third? How about the 45th, about the time when the offspring stops being cute and the idea begins to regain some favor? Any time at all? Should a parent have the power of life and death over offspring forever?
You can see that even though at some point the argument breaks down, with a little effort this sort of thing can provide endless amusement, so let's try another:
The reason Obama can't possibly allow the Catholics to decline any part of his healthcare bill on religious grounds is because then he'd have to grant other religions exemptions based on their theology. Christian Scientists would then have to be granted a blanket waiver from healthcare laws, but of course they'd still have to pony up April 15th to help pay for everybody else.
This could lead to the government overtly encouraging us to convert as this would be a big cost-saving measure.
Next the Muslims would want an exemption for the killing of wives, daughters, and infidels citing the accompanying reduction in prison populations as a cost savings.
Or we could ask that the government simply not think it should be in any business at all. Now there's a real cost savings.
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2 comments:
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Any business operated by a church or other religious or non-profit organization that allows non-member employees, managers, owners, or customers or students, is first a business operating in the US and the state where it is organized. IRS be damned. Ahem.
The members of the faith, on the other hand, should and must have complete latitude to obey, first, the laws of the US (according to the Constitution; else we cannot assure religious tolerance), then the teachings of their faith and their personal conscience and needs.
An employer operates either entirely within a religious community -- or is a public business. Sort of like being almost not a virgin.
The fact that a Catholic university catering to a public student body with intent to guide their instruction, and preserve their profits from the IRS, has to have abortion services available doesn't have anything to do with whether students, faithful or not, seek the nearest, safest abortion. Most clinics and doctors know how to amputate a mashed limb; that doesn't threaten every patient that walks in with random limb removal.
As long as the government and Department of Education tell our children that going to college is the end-all and be-all of guiding their lives to anything meaningful -- we are destroying the means of raising children in good, stable homes.
The reason for life? To respect our parents, and in our turn, to raise children that respect theirs.
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