2006-06-13 02:04:39 · 3 answers · asked by David B 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Do religions do this? Many do, yes. It's a product of our political system, which is based on might-makes-right majority rule. If there are a majority of people who believe a certain way, they get to impose their beliefs on everyone else.
The constitutional protections only apply where religious bias can be proven. Especially given the rational basis standard of review for most laws (any rationally related means to accomplish any legitimate government purpose, with all presumptions favoring the government). As long as the government can make any colorable claim that a law is serving a secular purpose, it passes rational basis. So the majority only has to provide some non-religious justification and they get enforcement of their religious and moral beliefs in a broad range of areas.
Should they? Absolutely not. But as long as we live in a majority-rule system, the only thing stopping the majority from imposing their beliefs is self-restraint. And sadly, too many people have forgotten that the goals of religions are personal growth, not enforcement of those beliefs onto the population at large.
2006-06-13 03:02:16 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea, that is what most of the government is built around today. If you sit in court you swear on the bible, children say it in the pledge of allegience (sp?), "one nation under god". I have always had and issue with that and I don't think it will ever go away. You should see the true meaning of religon, it is shocking.
2006-06-13 02:39:22 · answer #2 · answered by taydemzombie666 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not, even within the various religions there are difference as to what is moral and what is not.
2006-06-13 02:13:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋