Separation of Church and State

[MonkeyFoo]

Do you think that a democracy benefits more from a strict separation of church and state than it does from no separation? It would be nice to see some people debate both sides. (don't just post a yes or a no, this is critical thinking so support your answer somehow.)

[DracIV]

RE: Separation of Church and State

Time and time again it has been proved that theocracies suck. If you want a modern example, just look at Iran. Theocracies are always run by the fanatics, the extremists, the ones who want to kill everyone and trash things.

[Laharl]

The founding fathers didn't mean for seperation of church and state to mean things such as it's against the law to mention religions in schools and the courthouse. It simply meant no theocracy, as in a country controlled and run by a religion versus a government.

[The_Q]

Time and time again it has been proved that theocracies suck. If you want a modern example, just look at Iran. Theocracies are always run by the fanatics, the extremists, the ones who want to kill everyone and trash things.

A common misconception. Islam as a theocracy has worked very well over the years. It's made many a man rich, too. Extremists don't run theocracies for the very reason that if they were running everything, why would they need to be extreme?

Oh, and I agree with Laharl. There whould be separation, but not restriction. Restriction is bad. In almost everycase you can think of, it's bad.

Q

[jewpinthethird]

The founding fathers didn't mean for seperation of church and state to mean things such as it's against the law to mention religions in schools and the courthouse.

It isnt against the law to mention religion in public schools and courthouses, however it is against the law to for public schools to have prayer sessions or preach a certain religion, and it is against courthouses to be in favor of one religion.

It isnt restriction as much as it is trying to create level grounds.

Personally, I am one who believes God should be taken out of the pledge of allegence...but only for the fact that it was added in the 50's to counter the Godless Soviet Union.

[Enigma-7]

I think this situation's fine jsut the way it is. I don't have a problem with anything like this.

[LokiSuku]

I don't know why people are so pissed about it.

So, can anyone call me the true reason why these two should be seperate?
I'm sorry if the concept of God offends you, but we can't please everyone.

[alainbryden]

No, no one can call you the reason that they should be seperate.

but I can tell you why they should be seperate. Religion is about controlling people, Democrasy is about freedom. They do not belong together.

Now stop repeating other people's questions and saying nothing relevant. Stick to garbage bin until you learn how to post.

[trillobyite]

If you take religion to the extreme you will get a theocracy, which is a pathetic excuse for most countries and it really only leads to years of violence and bloodshed. If you destroy religion, you get communism, which is horrific and writing the word God anywhere will get you executed.

[alainbryden]

no you just showed the two extremes. No religion does not mean communism. Don't be dumb. Everyone needs to take notes from the number one song ever. "Imagine - John Lennon"

[torres1287]

I believe that taking God out of our schools has just ruined a lot of people. They take God out of schools and many other places...and then they wonder why the world is going to Hell. I believe as a student in high school that if you don't believe in God, that's your opinion...not everyone else's...and don't try to cut my rights as a Christian just because you don't believe the same as I do. I don't go out and try to take away other's rights; so why should they be able to take away mine?! Those last ones was in thoughts of people wanting to take "In God We Trust" off US currency, taking the Ten Commandments away from places, wanting to take "One Nation UNDER GOD" out of the Pledge of Alliegance(sp?...it's almost 1am as I'm posting this), and so on and so forth. I believe you get the picture of my opinion here.

[alainbryden]

You don't have the right as a christian to force other people to learn about your stories in school, so your whole point is invalidated.

[torres1287]

You don't have the right as a christian to force other people to learn about your stories in school, so your whole point is invalidated.

Okay, maybe I was wrong about you getting the picture of what I was saying. I don't want to force people to believe in God. That's not my reason for being. They're supposed to want to do it within themselves if it's actually real. Not someone scaring them into believing they need to be saved.

I'm just saying, don't take God away from my environment. If they don't want to see it or say anything with "God" in it (as the Pledge of Alliegance and so forth), just let them stay silent as others do say it. I'm just saying that they should leave things be and let those who want to utilize their rights do so. Those who don't care about that right, let them be. Just don't take away my rights because I don't believe as you.

[alainbryden]

Fair enough. What I was saying was about the education thing. They didn't make learning in a christian school illegal, they just made it no longer mandatory. I think that's fair.

[torres1287]

Yes, I understand that and the statement is fair. I wish that we had a Christian school here for high school grades. In a way, I'm glad that I am where I am though. I would've never met my boyfriend if it wasn't for us going to school together and having chorus together. I do utilize my rights at my school. I am president of the Cougars for Christ group. In that I still believe that, "Our doors are always open for those who want to listen...if you don't, there's the door." I do feel sorry for those who don't belive though and choose to walk out the door, but I don't force anything upon them.