2006-12-27 11:50:54 · 10 answers · asked by STFU Dude 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The religion to which I belong, the Roman Catholic Church, is not a democracy and never has professed to be.
In fact, if it were a democracy, I would not want to be a part of it.
"Democracy" is something best left to political systems. But when it comes to the Truth -- well, as Pope Benedict XVI has said, Real Truth is not determined by a majority vote.
The Catholic Church's earthly structure is patterned on Heaven. As it should be.
That's not to say that people don't have a voice in the Church, or that people don't have opportunities to serve the Church in ways that are in line with their skills and interests.
Nor does it mean that the Church is authoritarian. The Church doesn't say "you have to do this simply because WE say so."
Instead, the Church is authoritative -- which is very different from being authoritarian.
An authoritative organization is one which holds the Truth, offers it to people, and lets people decide whether to accept it or not. Authoritarians don't do that -- their methods are far more severe.
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2006-12-27 11:57:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Since the general populace lacks the ability to directly elect a leader it would automatically discount it's ability to be a democracy (or even a republic since representatives aren't even voted on). Organized religion is typically an autocratic, if not dictatorial, in relation to their governing style.
2006-12-27 19:55:42 · answer #2 · answered by arch_uriel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my church we have a system, in a sense, of checks and balances. Our leaders are elected by people we have elected. Also, each church is governed by a vestry that has 9 members and is elected from the church membership by the church members. Our priest can't spend any money, except from his discretionary fund, without vestry approval. Our priest even tells us what he spent from his fund. We also publish the minutes of each of our meetings and encourage members to come to any vestry member if he or she has a concern or problem. So yes, I'd say we're pretty democratic.
2006-12-27 19:58:47 · answer #3 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I do feel at the higher end of the hierarchy (pope etc) they probably make decisions as a unit on how to proceed as a religion.
2006-12-27 19:53:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's communism.
2006-12-27 20:18:26 · answer #5 · answered by baby BELLA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell no! Its a dictatorship 100%
2006-12-27 19:53:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are asking were they designed to advocate or promote democracy, yes.
2006-12-27 19:56:31 · answer #7 · answered by rezany 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No that is why there are so many problems. People muck it up.
2006-12-27 19:53:57 · answer #8 · answered by bess 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no, they all must follow "gods law" so its more of a dictatorship
2006-12-27 19:53:30 · answer #9 · answered by Red Eye 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No.
2006-12-27 19:57:03 · answer #10 · answered by S K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋