How long do you suppose it would be before churches were standing empty?
2007-03-13 03:25:32 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Daisy is following me, look at England.
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2007-03-13 03:29:49 · update #1
Interesting question - I suppose the church of England could be a relevant example for an answer.
2007-03-13 03:28:29 · answer #1 · answered by daisyk 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
The US cannot establish state religion per the First Amendment. If it did happen, it would likely lead to civil war in this country, it would not go over like many Conservative Christians think it would.
To the post above, the majority of the Founding Fathers were not Christians, they were Deists and Free Thinkers. This is another lie spread by the Religious Right (which is an interesting thought considering Zechariah 13:3), and is based on out of context quotations.
2007-03-13 10:53:57 · answer #2 · answered by The Doctor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In theory, such a thing would never happen due to the premises behind the separation of church and state. The very foundation of our religious freedom would be ripped from it's moorings if such an occurrence came along. The churches wouldn't necessarily empty in my opinion; they'd rebel against the establishment, for they'd be asked to swear allegiance to a centralized religion controlled by government, which is one of the many reasons our forefathers left Europe to begin with.
2007-03-13 11:17:00 · answer #3 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although the US provides it's citizens with the freedom of religion, our government and country was founded on the principles of Christianity and the Bible. I you ask people from other countries they will tell you that they view the US as a Christian nation. Weather we declare it or not is not relevant. What is relevant is that is what we are. That doesn't mean that it is the only religion allowed to be practiced however. If the President and Congress declared that our official religion was Christianity I don't think you would notice a difference. People would be upset because of the contradiction. On one hand the constitution declares the freedom of religion and then we declare an official religion. I also believe that if the government declared and enforced an official religion a lot of citizens would be against it. As a Christian I would be against the government requiring it's citizens to be Christians. Christianity isn't about forcing or intimidating others into becoming Christians. If you can persuade someone to be a Christian later someone else can persuade them to be something else. If has to come from willfully following the Holy Spirits call.
2007-03-13 10:40:54 · answer #4 · answered by Rick D 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are too many (but still a minority of) Christians who seem to want their religion to rule the government, but none wants the government to run their religion. That people still don't grasp that separation of church and state ensures that each person can worship as he or she chooses--according to conscience, not because they must--baffles me.
If fundamentalist Christians were to get their fondest wish and an answer to their most fervent prayers, and the U.S. were to establish Christianity as the state religion, it would not bring harmony. It would be the beginning of a period of horrific strife, a battle between factions fighting for the supremacy of "their" Christianity over all others.
Some people just don't know how good they have it.
2007-03-13 10:51:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A generation. Less time if there were a financial incentive.
Oh - and churches are standing empty all over the country even today.
2007-03-13 10:30:19 · answer #6 · answered by awayforabit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In order to declare an official religion, the US would first have to pass an amendment to the Constitution. I give that a very low order of probability.
2007-03-13 10:30:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not long. A church sponsored by THIS government would have the efficiency of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the accuracy of the Post Office and the compassion of the Internal Revenue Service.
Not good.
2007-03-13 10:30:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
On a lighter note.
We are not a theocracy, by George.
When the Russian Christians could no longer worship the way they once did, house churches sprung up everywhere. The same thing would happen here as it did in Rome and Russia.
We do not want a theocracy, but we do want a country that is self-controlled and obeys the laws of the land and of God.
grace2u
2007-03-13 10:35:54 · answer #9 · answered by Theophilus 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
the framers of the constitution were basicly christian in nature but were in part refuges from denominational fights from the old country. They felt the prohibition against a state religion would allow different denominations to coexist peacefully. To declare one religion a state religion would turn this country inside out and I don't believe it would happen.
2007-03-13 10:34:18 · answer #10 · answered by wewally 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋