Re: Why is compelling servitude "freedom"?
"why in 2015 is persecution of someone for exercising their faith a good thing?"
Because it is not a matter of exercising faith it is a matter of imposing it on others. e.g:
1) Jewish Doctor refuses to prescribe medication because capsules in question have a gelatin component derived from pigs.
2) Jehova Witness Doctor refuses to authorise\recommend a blood transfusion.
3) Muslim Doctor refuses to prescribe medication containing ethanol.
4) Buhddist Doctor refuses to kill ANYTHING ...including MRSA.
5) Hindu Doctor refuses to prescribe anything derived from a bovine byproduct.
6) Politicians insist on passing bovine byproduct legislation.
...in all cases bar '6' the perp in question is going to be summarily shut down for indulging in dangerous, superstitious obscurantism. Arguing that Doctors deal in lives and florists don't is irrelevant to the principle. Relevant religious freedom would be:
1) Freedom to have a Christian Cross (or other equivalent) as part of your corporate branding and insist ALL cakes you bake must carry this brand.
2) Freedom to print W'boro Baptist Church slogans on your company uniform (1st Amendment issue) and PERSONALLY wear said uniform to ALL events.
3) Freedom to refuse to borrow any money at interest due to ursury.
4) Freedom to personally refuse to ACCEPT any medical treatment listed above (but not to extend that to become an imposition on anyone else).
5) Freedom not to include pork, beef, alcohol, meat of any kind or anything else on your restaurant menu.
6) Freedom to "judge not, lest ye be judged".
Essentially, your right to exercise superstition ends at the same point that your right to exercise racism does ("Curse of Ham" anyone?).
Biting the hand that feeds IT
