Why has our democratic society lost its clauses on religion and has became vastly materialistic and shallow?

Answer 1

Oh sure, 'cos when our pious ancestors burnt witches at the stake, society was much more spiritual and deep..

Answer 2

We are not a democratic society. At best, we are a representative republic, much like Rome was at the time of its greatest achievements. You need look no further that Roman history to understand why our society has become so shallow and materialistic. There are hundreds, if not thousands of parallels between modern day "democratic society" in America, and that of the Romans.

Our entire society is based on power and wealth. We never had ideal "clauses of religion" governing our society.

Answer 3

Civics 101
The 1st amendment to the US Constitution reads:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech; or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble; and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Examining the relevant words.
respecting - regarding, concerning (only def given)
establishment - the act of establishing; the state or fact of being established (1st def given and most appropriate for this context)

Using these definitions what the Constitution is saying here is that the federal government can not tell me which religion is the "official" religion of the US. In fact it says that there is no official religion. It also tells me that the federal government can not prevent me from practicing whatever religion I so choose to follow, heres the important part. NEITHER CAN YOU.

If the majority of people wish to practice (insert your religion here) in a public forum then the government can not stop them. NEITHER CAN YOU. If the majority of the community wants to allow prayer in school then it should be allowed, if the majority want the 10 commandments posted in a courthouse then they should be posted there. That is the way a democracy works, governance by the MAJORITY not the minority. A true democracy means that the will of the people is the law of the land. By allowing the desires of one person, or a small group of people dictate what we will or will not do, we ourselves are responsible for the loss of freedoms we once enjoyed.

We have the ultimate responsibility for the laws that are passed by congress and signed by the current president. If we do not agree with the way things are being run then it is our duty to remove those indivduals that are perverting our country from office. We must elect someone who will follow the mandates put forth by the people. If we do not remove the crooks from office then we are just as guilty as they.

You see we are not a true democracy, if that were the case there would be no electoral college and George Bush would have never taken office. Unless we make drastic changes soon the illusion of freedom will soon be taken from us. It is a known fact that Bush did not win the popular vote in either of the last two presidential elections. If you want to end this madness then get out and vote in the coming election. Make it impossible for them to steal another one. Only by having ovewhelming participation in all future elections do "We the people" even stand a chance.

Answer 4

Firstly I am not sure which democratic society we are talking about here. Not when this so called democracy have caused so much misery, chaos and death of innocents in so many countries around the world since its history began. If brutal buggery of those innocent civilians captured by those psychopatic and sick soldiers who have been brough up in orphanage and have no religious or moral value in their life and all that in the name of freedom is the fruit of that great democracy then we all have to start praying to god for a real democracy for all. I mean for everyone around the world as people are people regardless of their geographical locations, colour, race, religion etc. Can anyone put their hand on their heart and say this indeed is the gtrue democracy we are foolishly led to believe? Religion only came into it when they needed slave from the great Africa. They started by sending some missionaries to smooth the way for the great satan of a governements to follow and hunt innocent people down and do what they done to them for so many decades. I would be naive to think that them guys at the top would really and truely believe in god or any religion, in fact one has to be glad that they keep their distance from religion apart from those times when they want to get elected and fool naive people. They have always been materialistic and never religion played any part apart from keeping a front when needed. End of.

Answer 5

When has society not been materialistic and shallow? Most folks have all they can manage to find the necessities of life for the day. Having time to sit around and think holy thoughts is a luxury that the religious usually obtain by convincing working people to feed them.

Answer 6

This is the biggest problem of the world at the moment. The more comfort and easy things people are creating to earn wealth, the more they are making the world materialistic.
It is very difficult for the young people to get out of it. Even old people are in the grip of it.
It will take long time or there should be some natural disaster/crisis, then only people will value the nature and respect normal life without materialistic value.

Answer 7

With time and efforts of the blind, people do change. Change is the one thing that can hardly be prevented, and it is therefore probable that some placement of countries will change. There will never be a single-centered vision in any country, for there will always be some citizen who changes the religion or beliefs eventually. This country, however, is not shallow. Do not take this place for granted, because believe me, there are worse things happening elsewhere. Take me, for example. I was moved to a country full of terrible and stupid people who had no idea what the rest of the world could do. They were shallow-minded, religious and anti-religious folk who, no doubt, had no external experience of the world. Please, I ask again, do not take this country for granted. You may be luckier than you think, my friend. There is more freedom here than most places.

Answer 8

The USA was not founded as a "religious nation", it was in fact founded by people who left a country they felt was imposing a religion on them. Most of the founders were Deists, not Christians. America has been "materialistic and shallow" for 200 years because that is the systemn that works best, on average, for the largest percentage of the population.

If you don't like it, leave!

Answer 9

Our democratic society was founded by a diverse group which contained some prominent atheists. Much of our constitution was "borrowed" from non-Christian groups such as the Greeks and the Iroquois. We didn't have the clauses to lose. It is our wealth and laziness that makes us shallow and materialistic, but I wouldn't trade our country for all the theocracies in the universe. (Theocracies scare me, they are led by nutcase zealots)

Answer 10

Because religion has caused nothing but chaos and disorder. How can laws be upheld on principles that are either outdated or proven wrong by science?
However, I see your point about materialism. But at the moment, what else is there?
I think there is a more deeper existencial quandry here.

Answer 11

I heartily agree with you. There is one answer and one answer only: Sin. Plus everything has to become right for Jesus Christ to return and the tribulation to begin. So I guess in the scheme of things this has to happen for eternity to come.

*I find that a lot of people are saying that this nation was never a religious nation. Yes infact the speration of church and state was clearly definded but that is referring that the state can not interfer with the church and the church can't interfer with the state. But! (this is a big but) Our forefathers had Christian Ideals, therefore the basis of our Country lies on Christian Ideals.*