So, a corporation and can direct and somewhat control an employee's medical care now. And it is legal. Because "it" decides it has an obligation to "it's" religion. Now I wonder, how much longer before a corporation can decide it can fire all handicapped people because their religion says so? Or that women in management is a sin?
Oh, I know, "we have laws against that" and it would never happen. What if we had our own "Münster Rebellion"? It could never get that far, could it? We would never go as far as in "The Handmaid's Tale", right? Or were the sci-fi authors correct in their own way? Heinlein had "Revolt in 2100", Lieber had "Gather, Darkness", Haldeman had "The accidental Time Machine", and David Weber has explored it many times, in at least two series he has written, "Safehold" and "Honor Harrington". Okay, end of literary discussion (for now, I would love to find more to explore).
More quotes and questions below the little orange cloud...
In Leviticus 21:16-23, we see where it is alright , nay commanded, for us to deny a job to the handicapped:
16 The LORD said to Moses, 17 “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. 18 No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; 19 no man with a crippled foot or hand, 20 or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. 21 No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the offerings made to the LORD by fire. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. 22 He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; 23 yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.
I am terribly sorry, but women can't be in management, 1 Timothy 2:12
"I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, she must be silent."
And from I Corinthians, chapter 11:
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." I Corinthians 11:3
"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." I Corinthians 11:8-9
And I am guessing wives are no better than slaves in the eyes of the holy:
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:22
"Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel." 1 Peter 2:18
So I guess my main question is this: When will enough be enough? Are we as a species bred to be sheeple, to follow the herd? Or are we being taught this by the powers that be, a la "1984"? Or am I looking at this wrong and the fact that the churches have the exemptons gives corporations the right to become churches unto themselves? Does the fact that they want to exert their religion over their flock, er employees make them an extension of the church? So many questions, and not enough answers :(
ps Looking for more suggestions on books/stories to read about "what if" futures