“Public trust in media at all time low, research shows” – Rabbi Ben Abrahamson
https://www.ft.com/content/fa332f58-d9bf-11e6-944b-e7eb37a6aa8e
Western governments have passed laws which essentially make it impossible for a traditional Muslim, Christian or Jew to fully support them: Enforced acceptance of alternative marriages. Enforced acceptance of transgender lifestyles. Complete abandonment of traditional marriage. Promiscuity accepted as normal teenage behavior. Current laws demand that public or government funding/allocation/expression be devoid of religious content. Any attempt to introduce scriptural values, or even basic moral values, into civil society is met with opposition and legally neutralized. Any attempt to regulate violent or extreme content in the media is fought. Political correctness is taking on more and more legal form.Take for example a California law signed this week: “It shall be unlawful for a long-term care facility or facility staff to take any of the following actions wholly or partially on the basis of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression…” the bill reads. Among the unlawful actions are “willfully and repeatedly” failing to use a transgender person’s “preferred name or pronouns” after he or she is “clearly informed of the preferred name or pronouns.” The law states that if provisions are violated, the violator could be punished by a fine “not to exceed one thousand dollars” or “by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed one year,” or both.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/09/new-california-law-allows-jail-time-for-using-wrong-gender-pronoun-sponsor-denies-that-would-happen.html
Or the florist who refused to sell flowers for gay wedding. “The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a florist who refused to provide flowers to a gay couple violated a state law that bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In a unanimous ruling, the nine members of the court sided with a gay couple from Kennewick, Wash., who sued a local florist for discrimination. The florist, a devout Southern Baptist, told the couple she could not provide flowers for their wedding because of her religious beliefs… A lower court judge sided with the [gay] couple and fined Stutzman $1,001 in penalties [for refusing to sell them flowers].”
http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/319900-washington-court-rules-against-florist-who-refused-flowers-for-gay
Or when “armed French police confronting a woman on a beach and making her remove some of her clothing as part of a controversial ban on the burkini… a ticket given to the woman by police, which said she was not ‘wearing an outfit respecting good morals and secularism’”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/24/french-police-make-woman-remove-burkini-on-nice-beach
While these laws may help protect a relatively small segment of the population from dubious claims of harassment, a far greater effect is that of sidelining religious people from leadership positions in business, law and government.
In addition, I would argue that the “faith” in institutions is essentially wrapped up in a belief system. It is not possible for us to check every fact and to participate in the drafting of every law. We must have representatives that we trust. When any institution become separated from its constituents, it is seen as elitist, different, other, and not trusted to serve their interests.
I disagree with the Financial Times’ assertion that technology (i.e. internet) has caused a rapid loss of faith in the media, judiciary and government. I think these would-be representatives of the common people have have simply lost their faith, and their way.
“My argument is simply stated: religion is not only good for society, but it is essential to society,” – James Gaston, a professor of history
