2006-08-23 03:08:07 · 16 answers · asked by cognito44 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I challenge guesswest777 to prove christianity does not support democracy. Afterall, democracy thrives in so called christian countries. So you going to take up the challenge?
2006-08-23 03:22:40 · update #1
Humanity is above democracy. Hmmmm. I wonder how that works. I always thought democracy was an integral part of humanity. Now let me humanity withOUT democracy . Hmmm. No it doesn't work does it?
2006-08-23 03:28:20 · update #2
sightspy, thanks for your thoughtful contribution - at least you are not shouting like some. But I fail to see how your description of democracy is really democracy. it is still based on heredity and that imo ain't right and leads to corruption and fossilation both of which are manifest in the Arab world today.
2006-08-23 03:38:19 · update #3
steve ronin, I think you're contradicting yourself. How can Islam not support democracy yet encourage it in other cultures? Your answer imo does not make sense. Democracy is about letting people think and decide for themselves, but Islam doesn't permit this.
2006-08-23 03:51:39 · update #4
Ramcess, Islam MAY have brought democracy in 1400 years ago but it sure doesn't practice it today.
2006-08-23 10:41:29 · update #5
Not at all
2006-08-23 03:11:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
In almost every "democracy", there is a "constitution" where certain basic principles are stated and cannot be questioned. For example, the US Senate/Government cannot pass any laws that go against the bill of rights.
In an islamic "democracy", the same would be true except that the "constitution" would be the Quran and the example of Muhammad on how to put this into practice.
If by "democracy" you mean voting, then this could be done on any issue that does not contradict the islamic "constitution". Muslims could vote for their leader(s) etc. as long as they follow the basic principles of islam.
The islamic system of governence is called the Khilafa and the last one was destroyed in March 1924.
2006-08-23 10:50:08 · answer #2 · answered by Nothing to say? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In a way, YES it does.
What distinguishes Islamic democracy from Western democracy, is that the latter is based on the concept of popular sovereignty, while the former rests on the principle of popular khilafah, mixing religious devotion with a notion of democracy and citizenship.
In Western democracy, the people are sovereign; in Islam sovereignty is vested in Allah and the people are His caliphs or representatives. The laws given by Allah through His Prophet ( Shari ‘ah) are to be regarded as constitutional principles that should not be violated.
2006-08-23 10:30:21 · answer #3 · answered by sighspy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Islam is the religion which brought democracy to light 1400 years aog in a secular ignorant socity, way before any western country even heard of it !
2006-08-23 16:28:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Christianity doesn't either.
Edit in response to challenge:
Sure. Christianity works (somewhat) in democratic nations because it's repressed by sectarian influence, and has been modified by sectarianism for a longer period of time than the other Abrahamic religions. Creating christian 'moderates' who don't really believe in their own scripture. Islam could do just the same.
But if you actually believe in the bible as the word of god it allows no room for democracy, because it allows no room for other religions (do not worship false gods and all that), or for atheists. We have this weird perception nowadays that things like the Spanish inquisition, nutjobs like Falwell, somehow aren't 'real' christians. These guys read the bible, it's all in there. The bible contains vicious attacks on homosexuals, women, sanctions slavery...I could go on. Extremists are more 'christian' than the moderates, moderates are just what we call people that don't really believe their own scripture, or cherry-pick sections of it. A democracy can function with so-called christians in it, but only by having them selectively ignore large sections of the bible, which surely involves a concession that it isn't a divine document, a concession they won't make.
If you really, truly believe in the Koran it's entirely rational to strap a bomb to yourself, because as a martyr you'll be rewarded in paradise. Likewise if you really, truly believe in christianity you'll consider the persecution of non-believers and a refusal to grant them a democratic voice as the work of god, because that mandate is declared in scripture in no uncertain terms.
2006-08-23 10:09:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't believe any religion supports democracy. That is why America was found on Religious freedom.
2006-08-23 11:15:33 · answer #6 · answered by starrzfan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
islam actually does support democracy, but not the way it has been done in the west, im not too sure how it works but it is a democracy
2006-08-23 10:16:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Religion, in general, tends to be inherently totalitarian. The leaders use imaginary authoritarian deities to dictate supposed absolute ultimatums to the masses.
2006-08-23 10:22:28 · answer #8 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No. It promotes theocracy just like Christianity does. That's one of the things that makes it so dangerous. The Abrahamic religions suck.
2006-08-23 10:11:14 · answer #9 · answered by lenny 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
yes but the religion & state r one
2006-08-23 10:10:17 · answer #10 · answered by baddrose268 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no but it encourages it in different cultures.
how ?
by people deciding they can think for themselves.
2006-08-23 10:38:35 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋