RE: U.S.A. versus u.k
June 9, 2010 at 7:37 pm
(This post was last modified: June 9, 2010 at 7:40 pm by Oldandeasilyconfused.)
Describing the US as a theocracy is like calling Obama a communist.
Freedom of and from religion is guaranteed in the US constitution. That one may be reviled as a nonbeliever is irrelevant.
What is relevant is that one is free to believe or not and not to be arrested,forced to pay tithes, put in prison or murdered.That is not the case in theocracies such as say Saudi Arabia or Iran.
Even in 'moderate' Malaysia, a Muslim apostate will be put in prison for two years for that apostasy. It is illegal to proselytise a Muslim or to offer a Muslim alcohol.. The religious police will arrest Muslims for say eating or drinking in public during Ramadam (in daylight hours)
In my opinion a country may only be accurately described as a theocracy when there is no separation of church and state,and religion controls the police,army and judiciary. This is not the case in the US or UK.
Freedom of speech includes the right of dissent. Believers and non believers are free to constantly revile one another.
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Tangent: Australians have a healthy contempt for clergy and people who wear their religion on their sleeves. Only 8% of our population admit to regular church attendance.
Things have become so desperate that the Catholic church in Tasmania recently imported three African missionaries. I kid you not.
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=21680
Freedom of and from religion is guaranteed in the US constitution. That one may be reviled as a nonbeliever is irrelevant.
What is relevant is that one is free to believe or not and not to be arrested,forced to pay tithes, put in prison or murdered.That is not the case in theocracies such as say Saudi Arabia or Iran.
Even in 'moderate' Malaysia, a Muslim apostate will be put in prison for two years for that apostasy. It is illegal to proselytise a Muslim or to offer a Muslim alcohol.. The religious police will arrest Muslims for say eating or drinking in public during Ramadam (in daylight hours)
In my opinion a country may only be accurately described as a theocracy when there is no separation of church and state,and religion controls the police,army and judiciary. This is not the case in the US or UK.
Freedom of speech includes the right of dissent. Believers and non believers are free to constantly revile one another.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tangent: Australians have a healthy contempt for clergy and people who wear their religion on their sleeves. Only 8% of our population admit to regular church attendance.
Things have become so desperate that the Catholic church in Tasmania recently imported three African missionaries. I kid you not.
Quote:Three Nigerian priests, Fathers Felix, Christopher and Kene, are sent as missionaries to Australia's island state. After overcoming a fear that they will die from the cold, and enduring a month of 'enculturation' (they speak fluent English but struggle with Strine), each is posted to a remote corner of the state.
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=21680
