Is that because nothing democratic whatsoever is promoted by the way your church is structured and handles itself? Are you having debates and critical discussions about "doctrine"? Are you voting on what that doctrine will be?
I didn't think so. Good thing the Founding Fathers didn't base this country on the way churches do things.
2007-12-16 04:52:24 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
the reason it happens is sort of cyclical:
religious leaders have a tendency to be authoritarian, since highly religious people tend to be less educated, and therefore more likely able to be fooled into accepting totalitarian rule.
NON-religious totalitarians tend to STILL use religion for the same reason -- because truly free people have little or no use for religion, but the highly religious can always be called on to blindly follow.
the perfect example of this lately is Pat Robertson's endorsement of the terrifyingly-authoritarian Giuliani... he asks his church to follow a leader that has always been diametrically opposed to what Robertson himself has preached: pro-gay, pro-choice, etc. and they do it. blindly.
2007-12-16 05:21:57 · answer #1 · answered by Andrew 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Wow, you hit it right out of the park. Religion is authoritarianism,. so is totalitarianism. Religion is superstitious nonsense but it keeps the masses scared they'll burn in hell if they offend God and the preachers tell them to suffer quietly in this life, that once they die things will get better, and that is why Latin America is such a mess today, and why America is becoming one. Religion has its place when it teaches personal ethics and human caring and compassion but for now in America its just big business. Jesus would not approve.
I gotta respond to the guy who said Germany and the USSR were athiestic. Wrong. Hitler was a devout Catholic, he made deals with the Vatican--we won't destroy your churches if the Church doesn't make a stink about what we're doing to the Jews. And Stalin did become an athiest but his training was as a PRIEST. Religion fosters authoritarian personalities.
2007-12-16 05:10:34 · answer #2 · answered by jxt299 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
NOPE , never have ! It is the totalitarianism of hypocrisy of the atheist & unbelievers that continue to amaze me as a Christian ! Atheist and other unbelievers always want to try to back Christians in a corner with questions like "How could your God let bad things happen , like " Katrina" , and diseases , etc . You unbelievers have to realize that you have asked God to leave our schools , our public places , our Godly Christian celebrations , and to get out of all aspects of our lives`in general , you have said "God get out" ; and then you want to ask questions about why God lets negative things happen ? God is not mocked !! Then you ask why hasn`t God sent a cure for all the diseases that man has inherited or created from his sinful Godless lifestyle ? God would probably tell you " I have sent the lives to cure your diseases , the scientist , the doctors , the nurses , the chemist , I have sent then all : BUT YOU HAVE ABORTED THEM !! "
2007-12-16 05:40:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes I have.
The reason for this, is people who centralize power under such a regime are usually lunatics who think they have some higher purpose granted by God. They believe God created them for the greater purpose of making decisions for everyone else, and cleansing the world of injustice and evil. This is usually percieved as favorable to religious right-wingers, who are naturally followers, waiting for someone like this to deliver them from evil.
Then when everyone else sees it for what it truly is, they'll cry about being needlessly persecuted.
2007-12-16 05:18:58 · answer #4 · answered by Boss H 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This doesn't apply to all religions. However, fundamentalists pick out the most intolerant and backward portions of the Bible or other Holy Books and apply them to life and politics. The fact is that many different people wrote these books, and there is no evidence of their divine origin.
2007-12-16 05:03:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Every church in which I've been involved is democratic. The church members actually vote on matters such as leaders, the church covenant, budgets, etc.
So, that kind of shoots your theory in the head, doesn't it?
2007-12-16 04:59:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Ever notice that totalitarian governments are largely atheistic?
Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and Red China all virtually banned religion outside of their party dogma.
Who taught you history, Ward Churchill?
2007-12-16 05:01:17 · answer #7 · answered by wichitaor1 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
"When Fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"--Sinclair Lewis
2007-12-16 05:00:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
You mean like the USSR and China and Cuba, where religionists are needlessly persecuted and discriminated against?
Yeah, I noticed.
2007-12-16 04:57:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
No surprise there...have you said your Apostles Creed lately...
2007-12-16 05:05:33 · answer #10 · answered by KERMIT M 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋