Do you think that Religion conflicts with Democracy?

Question

Do you think that Religion conflicts with Democracy??for example: when a country becomes a religious country, does this mean that it becomes not democratic country or not applying democracy???also, what do you think about the liberal movements all over the world, the "separating religion from the country's policy" stuff???

thanks a lot

Answer 1

Your question is a good one. First I must say though that the United states is not a democracy as many believe.
Our government is a republic, and difference is that we elect people to make decisions for us. And really there are no true democracies in the world in which the people vote on everything. Religion does not conflict with democracy at all, never has. Religion is only a belief system that sets in place certain guide lines in the government system, and that is all. The actual governing is still about the people and their needs. Many Muslim countries have been Muslim for hundreds of years and although many have Kings or other type monarchs, still their systems work for them. And most have elected officals that vote on and make everyday decisions about how to govern and the laws.

The liberal movements you speak of, such as, in the United States is based on some peoples views that they wish to impose on our system. Atheists wish to have an atheist nation. And since many religious views do not allow such things as abortion, homosexuality, adultery, premartial sex, and other things and so these views , in their minds, must to taken out of our system. So that their views can be put in place.

What these people want is change to a liberal, or maybe you would say, ultra liberal view, where abortion is normal, homosexuality is normal, adulty is normal, premartial sex is normal. And they want these views taught in our schools that way. And although their argument is always about things being private, that is not their intent.

This is already in practice in our public school systems.
They can and have taken all religion from our text books and if you say the a homosexual is doing something wrong, that is hate speech, but that same homosexual can teach our children that homosexuality is righteous and right. Same thing with the other views mentioned above. The liberal movements in the world have always been based on "anything" goes.

The only reason that these people have a problem with religion is because they want the church to change, and if the church would change then the church would be OK.

Their goal is to make a police state where their views are supreme and any religious views are illegal, or as I said, hate speech.

Answer 2

If a state respects a religious statement it will force non believer people to follow principle that can be in conflict with their own religion or culture.

Example: 2 year ago a englisman has been arrested in Saoudia as he was smuggling alcohol and finished in jail. The english public opinion were very unhappy and new papers were starting to argue that halal tradition is barbarian and should not be applied in UK.

In this example you got an example of religious state and a democratic state.

But in the both case tolerance is the case Saoudia could be a muslim state and tolerate alcohol like most of the muslim state.

Only 2 countries in the world are really secular
France and Turkey that mean their constitution doesn't claim that the country is recognised as Christian or muslim etc...
The funny part is Turkey is governed by a muslim party ...

State shall be secular if we want
to have no religious discrimination within a country
to define what is important to respect to be live together

The problem is for instance in the islamic culture the difference between the state and religion governance doesn't exist ...

Today that's a huge challenge for the Westen countries that want to change millenium of year of culture in so short lap of time

Answer 3

Well democracy is power to the people. Religion is power to the religion and control of the people.

It doesn't just conflict democracy, by controlling the people, religion can effectively manipulate democracy. That's one good reason to keep the 1st ammendment pretty high up on the agenda.

halfadan - What are you on? The US Constitution's 1st Ammendment clearly states a seperation of church and state. Just because it doesn't contain the exact words means nothing. And considering the Soviet Union's constitution was probably in Russian, how could it have contained those exact words?

Answer 4

It depends on the severity of the religion’s power in the states. If a state is run by the religion than it’s no longer called a democracy but a theocracy.

If the seperation if church and state ever breaks down than our country will turn into a theocracy.

Answer 5

That religion is an individuals' choice in a democratic society, any state policy; be it domestic, or foreign must be written void of religion. For to include it in the matters of policy making denies democracy, and bears forth theocracy. Policy and religion must be separate.

Answer 6

Religion does not come in the way of democracy as long as the State fuctions with no bias towards any religion.But religion should also be seen as a force for uniting the people for a good cause.

Answer 7

hahahahah

DEMOCRACY!

Look at the definition of democracy and then tell me who is implementing true democracy in this world. Even America is a capitalist state which controls others by appointing dictators and then forsaking them and indicting them after they have served their purpose.

As far as Islam is concerned, it is absolutely and totally coherent with the true definition of democracy. Probably you need to listen to the lecture by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Noah Feldman on Islam and Democracy. It is not available free of cost, you will have to buy it from http://www.zaytuna.org

Answer 8

I believe that freedom of religion keeps democracy in check morally

Notice I said freedom OF religion....not freedom FROM religion

We need the good influence to keep the bad influence at bay. WQe are not getting that these days because of groups like the ACLU. So we are seeing kids killing kids, wells.....lots of bad things that you didn't see 30 years ago.

We are raised to have no conscience these days.

Answer 9

Religion and politics are two authorities through which their leaders want to jump onto powers to dominate people and the world. So both parties are aiming at one target and it is natural to be in conflict to achieve their aim. Unfortunately, the aim (prey) plays an important role in enslaving itself to one of these two powers. However, when one overcomes, it exploits the other. So it is a game of plitics and religion to receprocate authority and power and poor people are the victims.

Answer 10

Islam is based on Democracy from day one. Democracy is how can an individual think freely about anything including GOD