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Saul-relative

I was wondering why you thought government and religion will always be somewhat intertwined.

I think so too, and I think so because as long as faith informs the values of citizens and their lawmakers, faith influences the laws.

As long as the faith values are amenable to nonsectarian or secular ones, this is no big deal, but there's a huge problem when powerful people seek to legislate particular religious doctrines.

I see a growing and more powerful movement to abrogate the separation of church and state, branding those who support said separation as intolerant, atheistic, anti-Christian. This misguided message has a lot of sympathizers, and I don't know if we should be scared of it; that I cannot say for sure "no" is scary in itself.

posted by Dyl_Pickle on May 12, 2005 at 2:42 PM | link to this | reply

empty_handed_painter:

I touched on just this subject in my post "Religious Right Mobilizing In Ohio", where I drew the extrapolation comparison between increased religious involvement in this country with past religion-dominant government systems. DylanValente and gubby both have the topic focused where it needs to be. Government and religion will always be somewhat intertwined, but when religion dictates what government is and does, it is time for the more level-headed to hide the rope, matches and kindling.

posted by saul_relative on April 30, 2005 at 9:29 AM | link to this | reply

I'm afraid we are getting close to that again... I think they shook their heads, "no, no..." like it wouldn't happen... right before it happened...

posted by Metta on April 29, 2005 at 7:46 PM | link to this | reply

That is a scary sticker

But don't think it would fly in today's society...(just my 2 cents)

posted by Offy on April 29, 2005 at 1:46 PM | link to this | reply

Painter -

I like it. But it scares the hell out of me.

posted by sannhet on April 29, 2005 at 1:43 PM | link to this | reply

I have a simpler one

Religion is used to control.

Every big war is "the will of God" and all that crap. And every time a politician says "God bless America" christians melt and feel less suspicious of his motives and more patriotic.

Funny that isn't obvious.

Religion must be kept as far away from politics as possible.

posted by Gubby on April 29, 2005 at 12:10 PM | link to this | reply

Yeah, the sticker is not historically accurate, but its essential point is what matters, that it's dangerous to combine religion and government. The biggest reason I find for this is that you cannot make someone believe something by using physical force; you can only convince them to say they believe it, which for religion is not enough. True religionists want people actually to believe in the faith; belief cannot be forced; ergo, belief cannot be enforced by law; ergo law must remain neutral toward religion (or as close to neutral as possible). How's that argument?

posted by Dyl_Pickle on April 29, 2005 at 11:03 AM | link to this | reply

the Taliban comes to mind

posted by calmcantey75 on April 28, 2005 at 3:57 PM | link to this | reply