Don't Ask, Don't Tell

By Webmdave  ~

diversity, equity and inclusion: noun

A set of values and related policies and practices focused on establishing a group culture of equitable and inclusive treatment and on attracting and retaining a diverse group of participants, including people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against — Merriam-Webster

 

Diversity is a clarion call of our culture.

I read an article today about how the original Star Trek series received criticism for including no female speaking parts in an episode entitled “The Devil in the Dark."

In the 60’s, Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek was experimenting with all kinds of futuristic scenarios while pushing cultural boundaries, but apparently even they sometimes fell short. Diversity, equity and inclusion has been on the forefront in the media and our culture for quite some time. The heated political controversy over transgender athletes is perhaps the latest battle in the cultural war for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Even the word diversity can rattle some people's nerves. These days most people agree that people should be treated equality and fairly, regardless of race, creed, color or sex.

On March 6, 1961 President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925, which included a provision that government contractors "take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. (the word ‘sex’ was added by President Johnson in 1965 in Executive Order 11246 )" The intent of this executive order was to affirm the government's commitment to equal opportunity for all qualified persons, and to take positive action to strengthen efforts to realize true equal opportunity for all. — LINK

Equal employment opportunity is the law. However, Diversity and inclusion – at least at the time of this writing – are not mentioned in federal law.

"Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of non-heterosexual people. Instituted during the Clinton administration, the policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on December 21, 1993, and was in effect from February 28, 1994, until September 20, 2011 – Wikipedia.

DADT was rescinded in 2011, but same-sex marriage was not immediately recognized by the federal government.  Even so,  on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges.

As of January 1, 2023, a new law protects the right of Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) Californians to access Gender-Affirming Care. Senate Bill 923, authored by California Senator Scott Weiner, is known as the TGI Inclusive Care Act, and was signed into law by Governor Newsom last fall. — LINK

And of course let's not too quickly gloss over the current political hot potato regarding including transgender people in sports.

We’ve come a long since the original Star Trek dipped it’s tender foot in the direction of diversity, equity and inclusion.

I don’t intend to offer my opinions about any of the hot topic issues above, because that is not the intent of this article. What I want to address in this cultural spirit of diversity, equity and inclusion is the apparent heated compulsion by some to denigrate and demoralize those who think differently about religion, politics or any other supposedly lock-step requirement held as near and dear to the heart of otherwise well-meaning people.

When I started Ex-Christian.Net, it was with the goal of providing a safe haven for those who were in the process of or considering the possibility of leaving Christianity. To be an ex-Christian has only one requirement: no longer believing in the Christian message or mythology. That’s it.

Being an ex-Christian does not mean: 

• Becoming an atheist 
• Becoming a democrat. 
• Being on one side or another of any hot-button politically charged topic.

During the last couple of Presidential elections, the emotions of some people were heightened so much that they actually believed those with differing political opinions were, well, not worthy of any common courtesy or respect.

It seems to me that people who have shed the dogmatism of hellfire religion should be the last people to be sucked into the chaotic whirlpool of political opinions. Religious beliefs are promoted as truths, but in reality they are opinions based on flimsy apologetics. Modern political campaign strategies are similar. They are filled with rhetoric promoting emotional opinions. If religious or political ideologies were truths, they would not be in constant flux. Truth does not change. Opinions do.

When I began to leave Christianity in 1999, I was fearful of others finding out. I was confused about what I thought. I had been brainwashed since a child to believe without question every word in the Bible. I had been taught to trust my elders and pastors. I wanted to do the right thing. I wanted to please my God. Leaving Christianity after 30 years of devotion was traumatic. I started this website in 2001 in order to connect with others like me, who had come to an intellectual crisis of faith. I felt alone.

The design argument for the universe, abortion, same-sex marriage, LBGTQ rights, etc., etc., etc. I was not in any place to discuss these issues with hardcore proponents, regardless of their positions. What I was sure of then is that Christianity is just another human belief construct that was hijacked by ancient politicians who thought the popular cult would be useful to their purposes.

So, as we enter another controversial Presidential election season, I would hope that here, at least, cooler heads might try to prevail. Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming election, the future is not clear. If George Washington could have imagined the way the next 250 years would unfold, I wonder if he might have had second thoughts about taking up the mantle to lead the 13 colonies to war. The United States of 1776 does not much resemble this time and place.

 In a world striving for diversity, equity, and inclusion, let's foster understanding and respect within the ex-Christian community, embracing diverse viewpoints and supporting those navigating their journey out of faith.  Let's avoid the trap of dogmatism, whether religious or political, and maintain a safe haven for those questioning and leaving Christianity.

Agree? Disagree? And why?