Which is the best example of why we need to keep religion from government?

Question

1) Dark Age christian Europe

2) The Taliban

3) The mess in Iraq between Shiites and Sunnis.

or

4) The religiously indoctrinated Palestanian youth who are brainwashed to hate jews because their religious teachers tell them too.

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MR CONSERVATIVE REPUBICAN BARRY GOLDWATER ON THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY

"By maintaining the separation of church and state," he explained, "the United States has avoided the intolerance which has so divided the rest of the world with religious wars . . . Can any of us refute the wisdom of Madison and the other framers? Can anyone look at the carnage in Iran, the bloodshed in Northem Ireland, or the bombs bursting in Lebanon and yet question the dangers of injecting religious issues into the affairs of state?"

Answer 1

All of the above. The government just needs to take care not to infringe on individual religious freedom.

Answer 2

I don't especially like any of the above examples. Why, because they exempt every other religion besides the one in question.

"We are the TRUE faith" the others will say, thinking that means they can do what they like. The bottom line fact is:

Religious people do not think in any meaningful sense of the word. They already know everything. This also affords them the "right" to do absolutely anything to further their own ends. Torture, kill, and enslave other people? Perfectly fine if you're doing to further "God's" ends.

Ever try to have a rational argument with a person of faith? They can't do it. They are absolutely unshakable in whatever preconceptions they're locked into and only rationalize backward from their assumptions and become enraged by anything that questions them.

There is no such thing as a rational religious person, the two concepts are mutually exclusive.

Answer 3

1) Dark Age christian Europe with the Crusades and Inquisition are good reasons to keep an eye on what churches do. The churches today do not have a good reputation with all the sex abuse.

When the Founders wrote the First Amendment, they largely sought to protect the church from government intrusion, not the reverse, but since the government was church controlled we can see that would not be good.

Answer 4

This country was founded by people looking for freedom of religion. Why would we want to remove religion from government. I agree religion shouldn't be forced on anyone, but we also shouldn't completely remove it from government. There has to be a happy median somewhere. I respect everyones belief whether they believe or not. I personally believe, so my opinion is biased I guess. Now i'm just rambling...not sure if I made a point or not.

Answer 5

The best? I can't pick one, they are all good examples of why.

Note that this doesn't make religion evil, but rather that it is not suited to govern a body of people. It works excellent at the individual level, because after all a relationship with any higher power is between the individual and that higher power.

Answer 6

Don't forget that Hitler's deal was built on New Age style mysticism, with a decidedly catholic underpinning. He could never have gotten as far as he did without appealing to some aspects of religious need...

But your point is well taken. Got to keep the holy baloney out of the government.

Answer 7

Spanish Inquisition
The Holocost

Answer 8

IRAN and TALIBAN, this is a topic that is harder said than done. there isn't´t a single country in the world that is atheist. which means that when officials run for government to get elected they need to get the support of whatever religion is dominant in that country. so until we actually get officials who are elected not because they are jewish, christian, muslim etc. religion will always have a stronghold in any government in the world. from afghanistan to zimbabwe.

Answer 9

I'd have to say that 2,3, and 4 would be a very good if you grouped them together because all of those reasons are fantastic reasons to separate church and state.

Answer 10

The Taliban is the best example of why we need to keep religion separate from government.