Note: All posts below are sorted by date, from newest (on top) to oldest (on bottom). It sometimes helps the following of certain post series if the same are read in the order they were written.
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts

2009-07-08

Secular

Secularity (adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from religion.

A lot of things can be considered secular, a lot can be considered non-secular, and some can be considered both.
For example, walking can be considered a secular human activity, but in religious cultures where one can walk to a temple in prayer, religious parade, or pilgrimage, that specific walk would be non-secular because it would be connected to religion in some way(s).

A Secular Government would be a Government in which law's are made to be disconnected from religion, and equal to all, not favoring or hurting any group of people based on their religious views or absence of religious beliefs, and giving no special authority to religious groups.
Iran
, for example, is a non-secular government, because its supreme leader is also its supreme religious leader.

In the United States of America, Secularism is gaining ground in government, but the connections to religion are still plenty.
The U.S.A. is not the most secular society. The European Union, is more secular in the sense that no religious references are seen in the Euro (European Union's currency), nor are they usually seen in courts, and some of the least religious nations on Earth are in Europe.
However, some European nations are still behind in the Secular race. Portugal's government, for example, is still a nation that provides perks to the Roman Catholic Church while not providing them to other religions, when the fair thing to do would be to help none.


In the United States, it is still imposed on non-believers that they carry non-secular money (not that I mind much, but I would prefer that even Uncle Sam would keep his religion to himself). Because religious people (theists) would probably dislike carrying money that said "In gods we do not trust", the obvious conclusion is always the same: the way to please all, is to keep personal choices (such as religion) private by not forcing them on everyone.

Keeping Government religious free is needed and not the same as removing the right to religion. However, our money, courts, pledges of allegiance, schools, public places in general, and all other civil procedures that any citizen may take part in, should always be free from religion, fair to all, believers or not, or in other words: Secular.

2009-07-02

Congressman Forbes, Religion and Government.

Not all leaders believe that we should be free to be religious, as well as to be free from religion. Some are bold and selfish enough to take their religious beliefs to the government, a place that should rule us all fairly and religiously unbiased. Congressman Forbes goes even further, by bringing his religious convictions to the place that also represents non religious citizens.

Congressman Forbes:



I feel that in light of so many false statements by a member of government, one should make things clear about some of the people from back in the day, just to leave things in a fair and unbiased state:

"The Bible is not my book, and Christianity is not my religion. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."
-Abraham Lincoln

"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."
-Thomas Jefferson

"This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it!!!"
- John Adams,
letter to Thomas Jefferson

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."
-Thomas Jefferson,
letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent."
-Thomas Jefferson,
letter to Francis Hopkinson, March 13, 1789

And my favorite from one of the brightest minds the world has ever seen:
"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
-Albert Einstein

Turns out, Mr. Einstein, that most of us still are in that poor place, and most of us still neglect the opinions of the intelligent.
Maybe the 16% of non religious Americans(1) should be more respected in their own government by seeing a private matter, such as religion, kept private.
Reading, learning, and thinking clearly about the sides and opinions that stand against ours can be difficult. But it is rewarding nonetheless. Maybe Congressman Forbes should read about both sides of the story as well, and keep his or any religion outside of government. We are already free to worship whatever we want.
Government should be free from religion exactly because some of those who the government represents also are.

(1) C.I.A.
Jefferson Quotes
John Adams Quotes
Abraham Lincoln Quotes
Note: You have just read the most recent posts. Feel free to browse our label section for a specific subject, and our archive where all posts are organized by date.