I have and do read the bible. But not for religious reasons. That part is bullshit. But I do think the bible is a great guide to living. The new testament anyway. But I don't expect you to do it.
It's a complex issue . I know some very religious people. They may tell you that you need to get right with the Lord . But they don't impose their will on you.
They do vote to not allow liquor by the drink. That's their right to vote on policies in their community. Such a thing does affect us all with drunk driving.
But they don't fire bomb the bar after the vote passes like a jihad would.
They don't look at abortion as restrictive to you. They look at it as protecting the life of the unborn. A fetus/baby may or may not be a person yet. Philosophers and doctors disagree on when that happens. But it is undisputed that a fetus/baby will become a person. And since there isn't a black and white clear line when that happens. They prefer to err on the side of caution .
They care what is taught in schools because they want their kids to believe as they do, because in their mind it will affect their eternal soul. And they want to spend eternity with their family. I sympathize with this view, though I don't hold it.
And i have to think that your side of the debate is a little disingenuous when you say they want to control your life. An example used is employer provided health insurance, which doesn't include contraception or abortion coverage. You can still go get those things. They aren't firing people who use the pill. They just don't want to pay for it.
And i would allow for a few nuts out there who would be happy to install a christian theocracy. But that isn't the majority by a long shot.
