I apologize to any of those who take this blog offensive, I just want to know what people think about this touchy topic. It seems that some countries have religion influence their government. Now I know some countries have a right like the Vatican, whose country is run by His Holiness. But should this happen in the Middle East, where the government is still influenced by Islamic ideas. I don't think its right that some laws are still used in these countries. Laws like the Islamic constitution are still in the republic of Iran.
Throughout the dawn of history many countries were influenced by religious ideas. As early as the Egyptians, priests influenced ideas to the pharaohs to pass laws "for the gods". Yeah right, it was for the priest to gain profit and power! Now in the middle ages, European monarchs were influenced by the Vatican. Some ideas were good, but some Popes took advantage of their power and had unofficial wives and sent prosecutions to people who were different to society. Some of these people were scientists and new thinkers who necessary didn’t believe with the Church but had new ideas to improve it. What did the church do; they persecuted them and executed them in front of the public.
This started a new chapter of people who thought this idea is wrong.
So now I ask the question, do you think religions should influence any kind of government of should they stay separate? People do need spiritual guidance but if the religion is abusing that power and hurting other religions or doing things that corrupt the government, should they still have the power? I would love to know why you think of your answer.
From an idealistic point of view religion wouldn't affect any country at all. All countries would purely be based on political ideas not religious. But religion is every where, it is something that has created values and cultures throughout the world. And even if in a realistic world religion didn't influence politics, I believe politics alone would cause problems. And even things like interest groups are all ways going to influence the governmental system of a country.
In many of today's democracies, religion constitutes a fundamental part of an individual's morality. An while I am against religious fundamentalism within government, they do play a considerabe role in the formation of good social policy.
-OxonGlass11
Why is it ok that the Vatican is a theocracy but not middle eastern countries?
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
The vatican is a therocracy, so yeah they do deserve to be influenced by religon, thanks for your comment!
Iran is a theocracy as well. So why is it wrong for them to be influenced by religion.
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
Because they are a republic, and should have some sort of democracy!
They do have some sort of a democracy. They elected Achmedinijad or whatever his name is. And, by the way, the Vatican is also a Republic, seeing as all a Republic is is the absence of a monarchy. The amount of what we call democracy varies throughout these Republics.
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
Sorry but I don't think you know what the definition of republic is. Monarchy and republic are two different styles of government. Here is the definition of republic: a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president (2): a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government b (1): a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law. Doesn't sound like a demorcacy? When our plege is "... flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands..." I think we our a motified republic! The Vatican has some what a parliment republic or democracy
What I said a Republic is does not disagree with your more detailed definition. However, you go onto affiliate what our republic is with what a democracy is. The two words aren't synonymous though in modern times often are. The USSR and People's Republic of China are two very good examples of Republics that weren't democracies.
Iranian Republicanism isn't something most Americans would recognize as such. (Although according to your definition, I'm not sure why you consider Iran a Republic.) Iran is a theocratic republic.
I think I've given off the impression that I support the Iranian government, or at least their idea of government. I do not. I abhor religious influence in government be it in Iran or in the United States. I was merely pointing out the contradiction in your statement, that is, that it's ok for certain government's to be influenced by religion and not others.
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
I guess I can agree that religous influence should not take part in government, and I don't like how China calls itself a republic when the people really don't have say of what happens to their country. Some countries have the right to be influenced by religion while others shouldn't.
"Some countries have the right to be influenced by religion while others shouldn't."
Two questions:
1- Why?
2- Who determines which countries have a right and which don't?
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
Some countries are the religion! Like the vatican or Mecca they can be influenced because the country is the the religion! Some shouldn't though like the US or any country that has no real importance to be influenced by a faith. The people should have the right to decide but then again a country should be ruled by the faith leader if they are going to be influenced by them. Thanks for your questions I hope this can help.
Mecca, I'm pretty sure is in Saudi Arabia, but that is besides the point. If I understand correctly, you're saying that a country that is not a theocracy shouldn't be ruled by faith. If you are, I agree completely.
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
Yes that is what I was geting at. Thank you for ythe word I was looking for, I couldn't think of it!
Ah. :dances:
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
Our laws were based on the foundations of the bible. Don't believe me read the Bible yourself and compare it the laws of our nation. So in theory there would be choas and a lawless society without religion.
On the other hand their radical muslim religions that are unjust who behead people, cut their hands off and stone people. Some religions radical muslim religions it is okay for the villiage men to rape a mans wife and daughters if they break certain laws.
I know I lived in a muslim nation. They have classes on how to beat your wife and when it is apporiate. The people there were disspirted and oppressed.
Thank God our founding fahers were followers of Jesus Christ. However be real careful on allowing religion to impact our government. There are muslims now that think they can live in American and should have a right to bypass our laws and since they are muslim have their own set of laws in America meaning in American woman could get stoned legally, if they have their way.
I think we should protect our foundation and our heritage and anyone whom comes here has to accept our way of life instead of trying to make us accept theirs, if their way of life was so great why did they come here?
I'm speechless
Leave Canada, please - Canadian Dude
(For the original comment maker for this thread) It is my understanding that you said that and i quote "I think we should protect our foundation and our heritage and anyone whom comes here has to accept our way of life instead of trying to make us accept theirs, if their way of life was so great why did they come here?" But isn't america doing just the opposite by trying to force our ways and government system on to the muslim people in Iran. Now I agree with you on the fact that we should protect our heritage and yes most laws back then were written from the bible " A book might i add", but we are talking about the same government that used to kill people for being witches. Also there is a thing called seperation of Church and State meaning that religion has no business in the government system.
Hmm, Men in Iran will stone a woman for stating her opinion. Cut your hand off if you steal, in some Muslim laws it is still legal to behead someone etc...
But last time I checked we had zero control over Iran or their government.
Killing witches was a localized incident for the most part. There are always uneducated extremist that take things too far. For example the car bombers... They recruit them young they are easier to convince.
Our laws ARE NOT from the Bible. Just because there are a few similarities does not make our laws Christian in origin. Our laws could be Jewish for that matter.
Leave Canada, please - Canadian Dude
In the American context, historians use the term Judeo-Christian to refer to the influence of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament on Protestant thought and values, most especially the Puritan, Presbyterian and Evangelical heritage.
These founding generations of Americans saw themselves as heirs to the Hebrew Bible, and its teachings on liberty, responsibility, hard work, ethics, justice, equality, a sense of choseness and an ethical mission to the world, which have become key components of the American character, what is called the “American Creed.”
These ideas from the Hebrew Bible, brought into American history by Protestants, are seen as underpinning the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Other authors are interested in tracing the religious beliefs of America's founding fathers, emphasizing both Jewish and Christian influence in their personal beliefs and how this was translated into the creation of American institutions and character.
When I said American character, I should have clarified the Americans who still have character and believe in the American Creed. Here lately, I would surmise that America is losing its character at a very fast pace. I know the example the people with character have come up with, but I am not going to say it, it would lack character.
Could you explain American character?
Leave Canada, please - Canadian Dude
This is just not true. No matter how many times you say it, it's not true. Our laws were formed mostly from enlightenment ideas (like individual freedom and egalitarianism, which are NOT Judeo-Christian).
And yes the Puritans (and Separatists) were Christian(Calvinist), but they did write our laws. They did not write the Constitution.
Leave Canada, please - Canadian Dude
The official creed of the United States, often referred to as The American's Creed, was written by William Tyler Page and adopted by our Congress in 1918. It says nothing about religion...
As for the idea that our system of Laws and Government originated in the Hebrew Bible, there is a simple observation which dispels that fallacious argument, and it is one that Thomas Jefferson himself noted when he wrote the following...
Your opinion regarding the idea the "chraracter" of America, both historical and modern, does not seem to be based on a good understanding of our nation's history.
TTFN,
Blackout
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You don't understand that we are in Iran to separate church and state. I hope you obtain better views on Iran; you need to respect our solders that are fighting over there. Yes they do recruit people at young ages; this is because they believe in the cause of their faith. As for witches are concerned, they burnt women that had different views of the church, they were also educated. This happened when the church had a great amount of power and this was known as the hammer of witches. ( Malleus Maleficarum 1487) This was written by two catholic inquisitors that told of what happened to the accused and what made them accused. You would be very surprised by the content of the book. And no to answer your question I never said that quote. I think that people have the freedom to come to our country as long as they learn our history and language to be a citizen. As long as they do this I don't care what faith they are, everyone has their own faith and beliefs and I respect that.
You don't seem to understand ... we are in IRAQ, not IRAN.
Cheers,
DB
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If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. - Anatole France
we're all over the fucking place
Leave Canada, please - Canadian Dude
So we don't have troops there? I think we are everywhere!
We aren't engaged in a military opposition against Iran. And Iraq was much more secular under Saddam than it is now.
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson