History Main / AgainstMyReligion

Being tolerant of one another's religious beliefs is very important (in many 20th & 21st Century cultures, at least -- and let's just [[Administrivia.RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment exercise discretion]] towards historical and current exceptions). In works created by people from those cultures, if someone says something is against their religion, other characters think they can't make them do it. Now that person might be telling BlatantLies to get out of doing that thing, but it might be the truth. Other characters are likely not going to press that character about it.

If the character is trying to make a point in TheWarOnStraw, or simply HidingBehindReligion to avoid some unpleasant obligation, they may invoke (or create) a ParodyReligion that just so happens to be against the thing they don't want to do. Freedom of religion does entail that you are legally allowed to hold any creed you choose to believe, so LoopholeAbuse may ensue.

Comes up a lot with someone RaisedCatholic, GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion in particular. Of course, in RealLife, many practices considered common by the majority may be expressly forbidden to people of a particular religious group. A common loophole use of this in real life is that some religions believe people have intellect, guardian angels, or a conscious that enables them to judge things as wrong that are not explicitly banned by their religion, and then requires they do what they think/feel/believe/know is right. Therefore, they are able to attribute their personal judgement as religious mandates.

* ''Film/TheBigLebowski'' has Jewish convert Walter, who initially refuses to drive to meet The Dude on Friday night because of the sabbath. The Dude reminds him that he was raised Polish Catholic and that he only converted to Judaism for his ex-wife, and Walter's a bit peeved by the implication that he should abandon his religion just because his wife left him.

** Another joke: A rabbi is walking around the yeshiva (or Jewish religious school) one Sabbath, when he sees three students sitting in a room with the windows open, playing poker for money! The rabbi is outraged, since you aren't allowed to touch money on the Sabbath, and storms in. He turns to the eldest student, demanding an explanation. He says, "I'm sorry, Rabbi! I forgot that you aren't allowed to touch money on the Sabbath!" The rabbi turns to the middle student. He says, "I'm sorry, Rabbi! I forgot that it was the Sabbath today!" The rabbi is finding these excuses hard to believe, seeing as the eldest student had been studying at the yeshiva for years, and the middle student was at Shabbat services that morning. He turns to the youngest student and sarcastically says, "I imagine you forgot something as well." The student mutters, "I forgot to close the windows."

** In ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime'', the Auditors are disguised as humans, and avoid being forced to drink tea (because they're not used to having bodies, things like eating are harmful to them) with this trope. The Auditors have noted that people will justify the most extreme behavior on the same basis, so by comparison refusing to drink tea shouldn't raise any eyebrows.

** In the ''Assassins' Guild Yearbook'', a long list of [[LoopholeAbuse loophole]]-filling rules to prevent ''any'' attempt by students to have a pet crocodile is eventually forced to concede that none of these rules apply to worshipers of Offler the Crocodile God. Then they add a rule that any student claiming Offlerism will be quizzed on the subject, because religion is not a joking matter. ''Then'' they have to acknowledge that, to worshippers of Nog-Humpty the Custard God, it ''is'' a joking matter.

--->'''[=McCoy=]:''' You see, ma'am, these two gentlemen already have a dictator, it's against Mr. Sulu's religion... and I'm a democrat.

* ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'': In the fifth book, Count Olaf disguises himself as the turban wearing "Coach Genghis" and claims he cannot remove his turban because of his religion. Of course, it's really to cover his single eyebrow, which is one of his identifying features.

* On ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'', one inmate claims to be a Jewish person that keeps kosher in order to get the kosher meals, which are much better than the standard food served. Pretty soon many other inmates join her, until the prison brings in a rabbi to verify that they're actually Jewish. Ironically the only person who "passes" as Jewish is the former nun (because of her expert knowledge of the Old Testament).

'''[=Arles=]:''' I don't remember. By the time I came to I was back in Tuna feeling like a Baptist again!

* In one ''WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad'' episode, Cheerleader claims that sweating is against ''several'' of her religions after weaseling her way out of gym class. [[TemptingFate Naturally]], she gets covered in sweaty used towels after getting "Towel Boy'd" ("Hey!" "Oh, excuse ''me'', '[[InsistentTerminology Team Manager'd]]'!")

* On ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'' Roberta temporarily breaks up with her boyfriend Federline because he won't get a tattoo for her. Apparently he's already bought his plot in a Jewish cemetery.[[note]]In RealLife people with tattoos actually can be buried in a Jewish cemetery, but the myth is so widespread that even many Jews don't realize this.[[/note]]
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''--ironically, the episode where Homer decides to quit going to church--he calls in to work in one scene to get the day off by claiming it's a religious holiday: "the Feast of [[LineOfSightName Maximum Occupancy]]."

** Example: A Muslim, Buddhist, Baptist, or what-have-you who has in fact had a drink before and didn't like it might use "it's against my religion to drink" to avoid drinking in social settings, although they hadn't had any compunctions about it before. Granted, someone pushing drinks on everyone else at the party is more likely to leave you alone if you're refraining for religious reasons.

** Alvin York, probably the most famous American World War I war hero, was himself a conscientous objector.

* Members of the LDS Church ([[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} Mormons]]) are famous for refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol, coffee, tea, and sometimes even caffeine of any kind. This is often used in media to mark a character as a Mormon. This comes from a piece of Mormon scripture popularly called the "Word of Wisdom", which also advises to use meat sparingly and the consumption of fruits, herbs, and grains. It is considered important enough that following it is a prerequisite for membership and for participation in several programs.

** There are also some extremely devout Hindu who don't do cow's milk or dairy for the same reason. This isn't quite as common as refusing beef, though, as milk, yogurt, and butter--particularly the clarified butter known as ghee--are pillars of Indian cuisine and (more to the point) are actually used in Hindu festivals (for instance, the oil in the lamps of Diwali is traditionally ghee).
* U.S. employment discrimination law [[http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_religion.html more or less requires]] employers to believe (or at least act like they believe) employee claims about religious doctrines and practices. Employers should accept all claims as valid regardless of whether the practice or the religion itself is new, or uncommon, or seemingly nonsensical; including practices shared by few or no other members of the same religion. However, employers are only required make accommodations that are compatible with the basic duties of the job and can be provided with minimal (more than just trivial) cost. For example, a toll booth operator whose religious beliefs prohibit handling money on Wednesdays should be able to request Wednesdays off; but an operator who believes it is sinful to exchange money with mixed gender groups can be denied a request for a dedicated lane and signage directing such groups away.
* In United States v. Seeger, 380 U.S. 163 (1965) athiests, who are conscientious objectors who refuse to serve in a war when drafted, are considered to have a religious objection based on a belief in a supreme being according to the US Supreme Court. Even if the Supreme Being is merely the intellectual construct of the individual conceived of to the individual as nothing more than a conceptional belief that God does not exist, it still constitutes religious beliefs and religious dogma. Various atheist schools of thought/organizations/denominations exist from Confusionism to Stoicism and there are many contractual atheists, as well as religious/belief systems that worship humans as a God such as Shinto that believes the Japanese Emperor is divine or humanism that considers humanity as a god in many ways. Some atheists say things are against their religion and have religious exemptions granted for school, work, and in other situations such as the use of tax deductions, exceptions to certain laws, and avoidance of military service.
* In most schools in the United States, there are mandatory sex education classes. All are required to allow a student to decline them on religious grounds and spend the time in an alternative activity.
* A man in Austria won the right to wear a spaghetti strainer on his head in his drivers licence photo because of his [[UsefulNotes/FlyingSpaghettiMonster religious beliefs.]]
** The person is known as Niko Alm and this was more of a publicity stunt. He protested against the "privilege" of Religious people to get their photos taken with various forms of headgear. He got this allowed in the end, because the spaghetti strainer didn't obstruct his face and not based on his belief.

* Olympic Athlete Eric Liddell refused to run races on a Sunday because of his Christian religion. In the 1924 Olympics, this meant that he ran in the 400 metres, instead of his usual event - the 100 metres. In the 400 metres final he broke the world record.

* It is generally known that observant Jews may not eat pork, rabbit, shellfish, etc. What is less well known is that ''very'' observant Jews may not wear garments made from wool and linen because of a Biblical prohibition against it. And those who adhere very strictly to the dietary laws cannot eat anything made in a non-kosher kitchen (which means, among other things, entirely separate sets of cookware, dinnerware, and sinks for meat and for dairy).

Being tolerant of one another's religious beliefs is very important (in many 20th & 21st Century cultures, at least -- and let's just [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment exercise discretion]] towards historical and current exceptions). In works created by people from those cultures, if someone says something is against their religion, other characters think they can't make them do it. Now that person might be telling BlatantLies to get out of doing that thing, but it might be the truth. Other characters are likely not going to press that character about it.

* In United States v. Seeger, 380 U.S. 163 (1965) athiests, who are unconscious objectors who refuse to serve in a war when drafted, are considered to have a religious objection based on a belief in a supreme being according to the US Supreme Court. Even if the Supreme Being is merely the intellectual construct of the individual conceived of to the individual as nothing more than a conceptional belief that God does not exist, it still constitutes religious beliefs and religious dogma. Various atheist schools of thought/organizations/denominations exist from Confusionism to Stoicism and there are many contractual atheists, as well as religious/belief systems that worship humans as a God such as Shinto that believes the Japanese Emperor is divine or humanism that considers humanity as a god in many ways. Some atheists say things are against their religion and have religious exemptions granted for school, work, and in other situations such as the use of tax deductions, exceptions to certain laws, and avoidance of military service.

* Any Discordian can claim ANYTHING is against their religion, by virtue of being a Pope. Unfortunately, since everyone is also a Pope, you'll be promptly excommunicated.

* Jehovah's Witnesses refusal to accept blood transfusions gains occasional notoriety and provides fuel for {{Medical Drama}}s.
** They also do not celebrate birthdays--or any other holiday--nor do they pledge allegiance.

* This is why the Cassandra Cain, who converted to Catholicism in ''Fanfic/AngelOfTheBat'' refuses to have premarital sex in its sequel. Indeed, intercourse out of wedlock is sinful in Catholicism [[spoiler: but her girlfriend points out that's kind of a hypocritical stance for someone in a lesbian relationship.]]

* The Stig from ''Series/TopGear'' was once introduced as being prohibited from eating mashed potatoes for religious reasons.

Comes up a lot with someone RaisedCatholic, GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion in particular. Of course, in RealLife, many practices considered common by the majority may be expressly forbidden to people of a particular religious group.

* Inverted in the case of many atheists and agnostics, who may refuse to do something like say the words "under God" in the American pledge of allegiance - not because it's against their religion, as they may not have any, but because they feel it is a part of someone else's.

* A man in Austria won the right to wear a spaghetti strainer on his head in his drivers licence photo because of his [[FlyingSpaghettiMonster religious beliefs.]]

** One episode from the first season involved Franklin trying to save a boy with a surgical procedure that's against his species' religion, over his parents' refusal. [[spoiler:They are entirely sincere in their beliefs, and when Franklin goes behind their back to perform the surgery, they kill their son, sincerely believing the surgery robbed him of his soul. This is likely a more extreme [[FantasyCounterpartCulture counterpart]] to the RealLife Jehovah's Witnesses' refusal of blood transfusions.]]

-->-- '''Cheerleader''' from ''WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad''

* In one ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'' story, Bob and Dave declare that their characters are disguising themselves as priests of a local temple so they can sneak in and rob it. In response to a suspicious guard's questions: [[FridgeLogic "I tell him]] [[BlatantLies I've taken a vow of silence"]].

* Some opponents of marriage equality are citing this not merely as a reason to disapprove of gay marriage, but claiming that their religion ''mandates'' the persecution of LGBT people.
** Notably, some supporters of racial segregation in the American South during the CivilRightsMovement also frequently claimed that racial integration violated their religious beliefs.

Being tolerant of one another's religious beliefs is very important (in many 20th & 21st Century Terran cultures, at least -- and let's just [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment exercise discretion]] towards historical and current exceptions). In works created by people from those cultures, if someone says something is against their religion, other characters think they can't make them do it. Now that person might be telling BlatantLies to get out of doing that thing, but it might be the truth. Other characters are likely not going to press that character about it.

* Opponents of marriage equality are citing this not merely as a reason to disapprove of gay marriage, but claiming that their religion ''mandates'' the persecution of LGBT people.
** Notably, supporters of racial segregation in the American South during the CivilRightsMovement also frequently claimed that racial integration violated their religious beliefs.

* Subverted by the US government - county clerks who are elected to their position swear under oath to follow the statutes of the office and are forbidden by law to use this as an excuse. This caused significant controversy in 2015 when a county clerk refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after citing religious beliefs as her reason only to be taken to court and losing her case as well as all appeals. That being said, she was eventually allowed to TakeAThirdOption: She herself is no longer required to issue said licenses, but she can't prevent her subordinates from doing the same; and said licenses are no longer required to have her name on them.

* Subverted by the US government - county clerks who are elected to their position swear under oath to follow the statutes of the office and are forbidden by law to use this as an excuse with the excuse of, 'If it's against your religion but it's legal then don't interfere, if it's the clerk's office duties then allow your junior clerks to do it.' This caused significant controversy in 2015 when a county clerk refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after citing religious beliefs as her reason only to be taken to court and losing her case as well as all appeals.

'''Inu-Yasha:''' You oughtta be arrested.

* In ''SomethingPositive,'' Mike [[RaisedCatholic cites this]] as his reason for him and Tamara having sex without birth control ([[LawOfInverseFertility resulting in her pregnancy]]). Given that he follows few if any other Catholic practices, [=PeeJee=] immediately [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp03032006.shtml calls him out on this]]: