If You Ruled Your Own Country, Would You Ban Religion?

[Pyrrho]

Nope.

Religion wouldn't be banned in Beccovia.

It would be expected to stay in its places of worship and keep itself out of education and politics, though.

I like the name of your country.  It is a nice touch.

[Jenny A]

Exactly.  When public school teachers are on the clock, they're an extension of the government.  That's why private schools have no such restrictions.

Regarding the military, they don't receive religious services during their duty shifts, correct?  And the military hires more than one flavor of religious service personnel, so as to serve all (or as many can be, logistically) faiths in its branches, correct?  Completely different scenario.

I view that as a very extreme and erroneous view of the 1st Amendment and it violates the 1st Amendment.

But I don't and more importantly the Supreme Court doesn't.

Besides, the question is what I would do as dictator.  The First Amendment is irrelevant to that question.

[Bob Kelso]

Ban religion? No.

I would utilize a harder, unequivocal, version of the first amendment though. Something along the lines of:

The governance of this land shall remain secular in all aspects, therefore congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof barring events found to be causing physical or psychological harms to another in a court of law; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

As for tax exemptions? I'd probably have higher qualification standards at the least.

[rexbeccarox]

Nope.

Religion wouldn't be banned in Beccovia.

It would be expected to stay in its places of worship and keep itself out of education and politics, though.

Dammit!  what country will I be ruler of, then? Xerbec? The Isle of Becca?  Rexistan?

Dammit!  you got the good one!

[Chas]

Nope.

Religion wouldn't be banned in Beccovia.

It would be expected to stay in its places of worship and keep itself out of education and politics, though.

Dammit!  what country will I be ruler of, then? Xerbec? The Isle of Becca?  Rexistan?

Dammit!  you got the good one!

Beccastan?  
Beccaland?
Outer Beccovia?

[Bob Kelso]

Nope.

Religion wouldn't be banned in Beccovia.

It would be expected to stay in its places of worship and keep itself out of education and politics, though.

Dammit!  what country will I be ruler of, then? Xerbec? The Isle of Becca?  Rexistan?

Dammit!  you got the good one!

New Beccovia. 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I view that as a very extreme and erroneous view of the 1st Amendment and it violates the 1st Amendment.

The Supreme Court sees it otherwise, and rightfully so.

[Theoretical Skeptic]

If you were in charge of establishing a new plot of land that hadn't been colonized yet, based on what you've seen throughout the history of this planet, would you make organized religion illegal?

I think I would allow organized religion as long as it had no bigotry and evil in its doctrines, (sorry, no islam, christianity, etc etc) and didn't encourage unethical behavior. Please don't ask anyone to define unethical behavior for you. My true feelings tell me to ban it, because it does more harm than good in a society, but at the same time, I'd want people to have the liberty to do so, if they must. I'm about 50 50 on it. What would you guys do?

Oh yeah, and tax them. 40% seem fair? It leaves 60% for god. I hear he's been saving up for his new heavenly mansion by the beach.

In a sense I would declaw religion as well as commerce and politics. These are the big 3 potentials for the abuse of money, the love of which is the root of all evil. Technologically speaking we have been at a place where the needs of every man, woman and child could be met. The traditional monetary system is holding us back with the domination of fractional reserve banking, a debt based economy, big business, the military industrial complex, big pharmacy and dependence upon oil etc. I would deal all of these abuses a fatal blow by removing money. Everything would be free and no one would have to slave at a job they didn't want. All of your needs and desires could be met, drug use would be legalized, your energy source would be independent, democracy, religion, politics, and big business would be a thing of the past. Mandatory public education would removed and replaced with specific education of your choosing. The place would be a real republic with no governmental programs or unnecessary restrictions. Having done away with democracy, where the majority can infringe upon the rights of the minority the republic could be established where not 99% of the people couldn't infringe the rights of 1%. No taxes of course, no legislation or social restraints against anyone. 

[Mr Greene]

If I were to control a new territory, eg. a colony on the Moon / Mars etc. I'd probably go with East India Co. style regulations;
Proselytizers would be banned as would cruel slaughter practices and child mutilation. Trading would be 7 days a week, creationism would be banned from science classes, there wouldn't be any tax breaks for religious groups, vaccinations would be compulsory, contraception and abortion would be available for those that wanted it.
Marriage would be a contract between those parties that wanted it regardless of gender.
So not an outright ban, if individuals wanted to follow it they would have that freedom but I wouldn't want it undermining society with its depravity and immorality. 

[Edwardo Piet]

I wouldn't ban it because it would make things worse to just 'ban it'.