"I wish the RCC would reform itself along with the main branch of the LDS church, the SDA's and the JW's ( they desperately need reform , none of the eighty something splinter groups can be called liberal in all actuality). …"
 |
The World's Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!
Grrr... Roswatheist Discussion- kinda facepalm, eh?
A pretty good point was brought up today at Roswatheists. "Maybe America needs to become a theocracy so that things would be rough for enough people that they would finally understand the need for separation of church and state." I would agree, except that this experiment has been performed several times throughout history. This is, in fact, the reason that America was founded as a secular nation-to prevent the Roundheads, Puritans, Atheists, etc... from being persecuted and or jailed for their human right to believe what they want.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on -
Actually, the Puritans did a lot of their own harsh persecuting once they arrived over here. THAT kind of behavior was the main reason that men like Jefferson and Madison tried to give us a secular government.
In the meantime, every new poll shows that more and more Americans are saying they are not religious...almost 20% of all adults now...4 years ago it was 15%. The most encouraging thing is that younger adults who say they have no god-beliefs number 30%.
Now, if we could only get the prez to boycott prayer breakfasts, and not say "s'welp me, god" when he's sworn in this time (and place his hand on a copy of the Coonstitution instead of a book of Middle Eastern myths). He's not running for office anymore, so he doesn't have to suck up to the fundie voters.... maybe he can get some work done now, even with a GOP majority still in the House.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Roswatheist on -
I know that the Puritans persecuted too, once they got here. After the eleven years of shitty living under Cromwell's Protectorate and no fun, no booze, no good music, no theater, and no hookers, it was payback time.
What I meant to do was point out that that, on top of the other persecution of theists contributed to the colonists' desire for a secular nation.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on -
The problem with becoming a theocracy is that you've rubbed people's noses in the crap, but with the theocracy established, it's liable to be 10 times more difficult to get shut of it. Indeed, I would expect it to be difficult to the point of requiring a WAR, a Second Civil War, to drive them out.
As to it having happened before, certainly WE know it, because we know our history. What's that old phrase? Oh, yeah:Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
-- George Santayana -
-
Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on -
Right you are, Loren.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Roswatheist on
-
Thank you. That was part of my point.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Pat on -
I tend to go with sy8eycat on the issue of Puritans. They didn't come here to establish religious freedom. They came here to escape their own persecution, and the ability to persecute those who disagreed with them. Roger Williams and the founding of Rhode Island is a one example, and the criminalization of the celebration of Christmas by the Puritans, is another.
As to a religiously based government.
The trouble with theocracy is that everyone wants to be Theo. James Dunn
-
CONNECT WITH ATHEIST NEXUS
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
Debra Stevenson replied to matthew greenberg's discussion Pope Francis says even Atheists go to Heaven
Tony Carroll commented on Steph S.'s group Birding, Birders and all things Birds"
Hawk Headed Parrott"
Jessica Berman commented on Ruth Anthony-Gardner's group Hang With Friends"I'm sorry I haven't posted at all; my mother was treated for ovarian cancer this past year, but I follow the discussions. Joan I'm glad treatment is going well. The ChemoBrain is a strange thing. The whole process was a whirlwind for…"
Richard C Brown commented on Hessenroots's group Useless Without Coffee"The coffee is good.My body says sleep.Huh."
Joan Denoo commented on Ruth Anthony-Gardner's group Hang With Friends"11:00 PM had my first bout of nausea; Rx took care of it. I feel wonderful. Absolutely no pain, I can't finish a sentence or remember words so Cary, Laura and Laurie did their best to understand what I am trying to convey. I usually get enough…"
John Hutcheson posted a blog postAre the media too giddy over the Pope?
With all the media attention the on the Pope, important stories are being missed, human rights violations, Monsanto protection act, Russia march to blasphemy laws, and of the big story this week did Harry Potter vanquish dementors?See More
Ian Mason commented on Ruth Anthony-Gardner's group Hang With Friends"The medical profession seems to have improved in some areas at least. Personally I think some of that is due to the higher level of education of society as a whole. We know too much to put up with bad treatment now. I saw a documentary last year…"
© 2013 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.
