Religion is government
 

While trying to imagine what a form of governance/social system that's not geographically based but value based would look like, I realized it would look exactly like religion.

Re: Religion is government
 

Expand or random thought?

Re: Religion is government
 

Theocracies are among the most dangerous states that can exist. Submitting to some celestial dictator and allowing outdated creeds and doctrines from a man-made cult formed during the infancy of human morality to govern a nation is masochistic at best.

Re: Religion is government
 

You're going to have to expand on what you mean.

Governance can be geographically based and founded on religion. They're not mutually exclusive. It's called a theocracy, e.g. Saudi Arabia.

Re: Religion is government
 

In a truly free system one should be able to freely associate and comply with whatever standards they wish. If people were divided by these standards rather than geography (like we are divided into countries), it seems that the closest thing we currently have to that is freedom of religion.

Granted this entire concept only makes sense as anything possible due to global ability/possibility of communication now, regardless of location.

Re: Religion is government
 

Standards meaning what? Moral standards?

Allowing each person to operate on their own standards is quite the opposite of governing so I'm not sure what is being implied here.

Will post after I'm back from da gymmm

Re: Religion is government
 

Since you're still being super vague (please take a look at the what makes a good CT thread), I'll respond to this sentence with an equally abrupt one:

Universally understood standards make society run efficiently, which is why they exist in the first place.
I don't know how removing these standards = religion.

Re: Religion is government
 

Yeah, you need to expand on what you're saying, a lot. Give more detail and break down your individual points, because right now there's nothing I or anyone else can honestly respond to.

Re: Religion is government
 

Anarchists sure do love them some Taoists

Re: Religion is government
 

Statism is a religion based off the belief that we need a government to rule over us. Read up on this link.

http://www.mensenrechten.org/wp-cont...rose-20111.pdf

Re: Religion is government
 

well, you're not wrong as the word "government" translates to "mind control" and that's literally what the goal of every religion is

Re: Religion is government
 

Yep

Re: Religion is government
 

Those who know the truth will never say a word, so rest assured everything here is wrong

Re: Religion is government
 

Theocracies are awesome. People worshipping and deifying God is super cool.
Freedom is real for everyone and all beliefs which is why allied militaries exist. Rebel groups could easily gather support and attempt a coup and I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet.
And freedom is much more than good vs. evil. It implies everything. Including radical thoughts that could very well change the way we are.

Re: Religion is government
 

Religion to me is the RULES, RITUALS, and ROUTINES, you attach your BELIEFs to to help you to believe in FREEDOM, LIBERATION, and also in the pursuit of happiness. The energy that moves is power.

Re: Religion is government
 

nothing is wrong with having something to motivate you, some people need something to do that and some don't, like believe what you want

the only issue that ever arises from religion is when religion tries to force other people to change their ways or how they are

edit: I don't know that much about American stuff but isn't there literally a part of the bill of rights that says there should be "a separation of church and state"

Re: Religion is government
 

No, but most Americans believe that too. The First Amendment --


-- is more protecting religions from the government persecuting or even embracing/abusing the church; then the amendment follows it up with "Also while you're at it just don't fuck with what people say and do if it doesn't involve violence". The "Separation of Church and State" bit is credited to Thomas Jefferson who reportedly used the catch phrase to hype it's inclusion.

People argue that it should go both ways but considering that most of the Founding Fathers where religious to some degree I think it's fairly obvious it was never intended to prevent religious principles from making it's way to Congress, although I would personally support that reading.

Re: Religion is government
 

That makes sense, as a canuck my impression has always been thinking that it meant "we shouldn't factor in religious things when we make rules and changes to the government etc", but I guess it makes sense that its that the government shouldn't mess with religion... idk that seems pretty wonky to me not gonna lie

Even so though, if that is the case, then the converse should also be true, like if state → religion, then religion → state should also be the case (→ meaning affecting or influencing them)

Re: Religion is government
 

Well the thing is for me is that Religion should be more like a belief system for your own energy of being more than just something collectively handled.

Re: Religion is government
 

"just something collectively handled."

thats literally what it is...