The Revolutionary War was all about escaping a theocracy and creating a democracy, where the people held the power and decided who among them would be their representatives in a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Theocracies have always been a scam, in which one person convinces the masses that he or she has direct communication with a god.

Religious wars breakout because one theocrat is threatened by another. They convince the people that those "other" people are worshipping a false god and this must be destroyed

Most every war you point to has a religious back story.

A theocracy in the US would be horrible for everyone.

(January 15, 2022 at 4:17 am)Rahn127 Wrote: The Revolutionary War was all about escaping a theocracy and creating a democracy

Late 18th century Britain was a theocracy?

(January 15, 2022 at 4:48 am)Belacqua Wrote:

(January 15, 2022 at 4:17 am)Rahn127 Wrote: The Revolutionary War was all about escaping a theocracy and creating a democracy

Late 18th century Britain was a theocracy?

Perhaps theocracy is too strong of a word.
From what I was taught in school, the ruling power in Britain was blessed by the church and this confirmed that the ruler had been chosen by god. The ruling party would then also select the next ruler of Britain. The people had no say in the matter.

If all of this is wrong, I do apologize and will educate myself further on the matter.

(January 14, 2022 at 5:20 pm)Ahriman Wrote: What makes you think a theocracy is soon to be? I mean that would be wonderful, but what makes you think that?

And I thought you said you support American values.

(January 15, 2022 at 11:39 am)polymath257 Wrote:

(January 14, 2022 at 5:20 pm)Ahriman Wrote: What makes you think a theocracy is soon to be? I mean that would be wonderful, but what makes you think that?

And I thought you said you support American values.

There's nothing un-American about forming a theocracy. "Freedom of religion" CAN mean "freedom to form a theocracy"

(January 15, 2022 at 11:43 am)Ahriman Wrote:

(January 15, 2022 at 11:39 am)polymath257 Wrote: And I thought you said you support American values.

There's nothing un-American about forming a theocracy. "Freedom of religion" CAN mean "freedom to form a theocracy"

Freedom of religion requires that one have freedom from religion so that one isn't forced into supporting a specific, other religion.

So, yes, it is un-American, dumbass.

(January 15, 2022 at 4:17 am)Rahn127 Wrote: The Revolutionary War was all about escaping a theocracy and creating a democracy, where the people held the power and decided who among them would be their representatives in a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Theocracies have always been a scam, in which one person convinces the masses that he or she has direct communication with a god.

Religious wars breakout because one theocrat is threatened by another. They convince the people that those "other" people are worshipping a false god and this must be destroyed

Most every war you point to has a religious back story.

A theocracy in the US would be horrible for everyone.

This is incorrect for a number of reasons.

First, Britain at the time was NOT a theocracy. It was a kingdom. As with many kingdoms, the king was seen as having divine backing, but not, at the time, to be himself divine.

Next, the founding fathers were NOT interested in a democracy. They specifically and clearly stated that was NOT what they wanted. Instead, they wanted and formed a republic. They saw democracies as too subject to temporary hysterias leading to bad policies. This is one reason why they did NOT want direct election of Senators and the President. It is also why they liked the idea of limiting voting to the propertied class.

Next, most wars have a religious back story, but mostly as an after effect of the conflict, not as a source of the conflict. Usually, there is a political or economic basis for the conflict. But support is drummed up by the use of religion. And, because of the nature of religion, it is *always* possible to find some meaningless difference that can be promoted to a cause celebre.

But I do agree that theocracy is a horrible form of government and should be avoided at all costs. It tends to take the already too powerful kings and adds ideological agreement as a condition. Of course, politics can do the same.

(January 15, 2022 at 11:53 am)Angrboda Wrote:

(January 15, 2022 at 11:43 am)Ahriman Wrote: There's nothing un-American about forming a theocracy. "Freedom of religion" CAN mean "freedom to form a theocracy"

Freedom of religion requires that one have freedom from religion so that one isn't forced into supporting a specific, other religion.

So, yes, it is un-American, dumbass.

No......atheism is neither a tenant, nor a goal, of freedom of religion. Back when "freedom of religion" became codified in the States, atheism was seen as stupid/weird/backwards. It was pretty much a given that you would adhere to some form of religion/spirituality or another. Being an atheist would have (righfully) been seen as an abuse of freedom.

(January 15, 2022 at 11:43 am)Ahriman Wrote:

(January 15, 2022 at 11:39 am)polymath257 Wrote: And I thought you said you support American values.

There's nothing un-American about forming a theocracy. "Freedom of religion" CAN mean "freedom to form a theocracy"

A theocracy is very much against the values upon which the USA was founded. Have you ever read the Federalist Papers? or the Constitution?

(January 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm)Ahriman Wrote:

(January 15, 2022 at 11:53 am)Angrboda Wrote: Freedom of religion requires that one have freedom from religion so that one isn't forced into supporting a specific, other religion.

So, yes, it is un-American, dumbass.

No......atheism is neither a tenant, nor a goal, of freedom of religion. Back when "freedom of religion" became codified in the States, atheism was seen as stupid/weird/backwards. It was pretty much a given that you would adhere to some form of religion/spirituality or another. Being an atheist would have (righfully) been seen as an abuse of freedom.

Who said anything about atheism? Nobody. Pull your head out, shit for brains. Being a Hindu in a country requires freedom from coercion by other religions such as would exist in a Christian theocracy. And that would be un-American. That you think that only atheism would suffer under a theocracy is false. Freedom of religion requires freedom from religion regardless of whether you are religious or not. The only people for whom a theocracy would not be oppressive are those people who belong to that religion. You don't think about how it would affect other people and religions because you're incapable of seeing any other point of view but your own.