So do you think.......

[walksalone11]

...the government, whether state, federal or local, should regulate a persons spiritual practices and/or traditions?

[dealdeal1]

No, I don't think they should, except where it might cause bodily harm to a person or persons. And does not pose a threat to our national security (ie. terrorist).  Otherwise they should stay out! 

[walksalone11]

No, I don't think they should, except where it might cause bodily harm to a person or persons. And does not pose a threat to our national security (ie. terrorist).  Otherwise they should stay out! 

So, let me make sure I'm understanding you right. In your opinion, on the bodily harm issue, you would say that the government has the right to dictate to me, a native person, that I am not allowed to follow our traditions of flesh offerings or being pierced thru the upper chest and hung by leather thongs from a Sun Dance tree and then us ultimately running backwards until we reach the end of the thong and our momentum tearing the wooden skewers, that the thongs are attached to, from our chests?

[dealdeal1]

First let me re-phrase my statement:

No, I don't think they should, except where it might cause bodily harm to a person or persons against their will. And does not pose a threat to our national security (ie. terrorist).  Otherwise they should stay out!

[Falconer02]

...the government, whether state, federal or local, should regulate a persons spiritual practices and/or traditions?

If it's causing harm to others who do not carry the same belief system, yes. Otherwise no. We're talking about individuals and not religions, right?

t I am not allowed to follow our traditions of flesh offerings or being pierced thru the upper chest and hung by leather thongs from a Sun Dance tree and then us ultimately running backwards until we reach the end of the thong and our momentum tearing the wooden skewers, that the thongs are attached to, from our chests?

Woah! PIX PLZ!!!

[walksalone11]

t I am not allowed to follow our traditions of flesh offerings or being pierced thru the upper chest and hung by leather thongs from a Sun Dance tree and then us ultimately running backwards until we reach the end of the thong and our momentum tearing the wooden skewers, that the thongs are attached to, from our chests?

Woah! PIX PLZ!!!

Not in your wildest dreams, lol.

[mwybu]

How many times have we seen problems arise from the church and state intermingling? Government should not regulate religion BUT religion should not be left unchecked... With an honest balance within religious organizations there wouldn't be all of these priests being relocated to other parrishes because they molested too many alter boys.

[walksalone11]

First let me re-phrase my statement:

No, I don't think they should, except where it might cause bodily harm to a person or persons against their will. And does not pose a threat to our national security (ie. terrorist).  Otherwise they should stay out!

Ok, that clarifies that.

Do you think it is appropriate that current laws dictate that people who are enrolled members in only federally recognized tribes are the only natives allowed to posses certain feathers and other spiritual paraphernalia, while the vast majority of Indian Nations are not federally recognised. Therefor all members of these tribes are prohibited from possessing said spiritual items, even though they are legitimately Indian peoples.

Also any member of the federally recognized church named Native American Church (N.A.C) who is not enrolled in a federally recognized Nation may not participate in certain ceremonies, by threat of arrest and prosecution.

[walksalone11]

How many times have we seen problems arise from the church and state intermingling? Government should not regulate religion BUT religion should not be left unchecked... With an honest balance within religious organizations there wouldn't be all of these priests being relocated to other parrishes because they molested too many alter boys.

You are referring to non-religious laws being broken.
What I am talking about is prohibitions on some people against participating in ceremonies that have been parts of our spiritual traditions for hundreds of generations.