Magda SzubanskiThis is exactly what freaked me out during the whole Same Sex survey. Separation of Church and State is more important now than ever https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/videos/latest/sunday-on-60-minutes-praying-for-power/://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/videos/latest/sunday-on-60-minutes-praying-for-power/clak8f6vl001t0qtanpt8mrmk
Jason Goroncy@MagdaSzubanski The show certainly documented a vile (and all-too-common) story, highlighting, in particular, the courage of the two who spoke out. The language of 'separation of Church and State', however, has a long and complicated history, and the phrase tends to get used without much by way of defining things. This is often unhelpful. So, what do you mean by it? What do you not mean by it? Not looking for a fight here; just better understanding.
@jasongoroncy well, my understanding: separation of church and state was orginally intended to keep religion safe from the state and thereby permit freedom of religion - following on from the various religious persecutions in Britain and Europe.
My view - for a pluralist society to work and not descend into sectarian strife (what with all the different religions etc) it must be under the unifying umbrella of a secular state. Religion and state should be separate - that doesn’t mean religious people can’t be in government. But that they cannot seek to promulgate their religious views through that power. Otherwise - well, that’s theocracy. And that’s dangerous IMHO
My view - for a pluralist society to work and not descend into sectarian strife (what with all the different religions etc) it must be under the unifying umbrella of a secular state. Religion and state should be separate - that doesn’t mean religious people can’t be in government. But that they cannot seek to promulgate their religious views through that power. Otherwise - well, that’s theocracy. And that’s dangerous IMHO
@jasongoroncy further to that, I would say that as society has evolved some of us now require freedom FROM religion
Derek Robinson
Ptapoo@MagdaSzubanski @jasongoroncy
I couldn't agree more. I don't know any non-believer that wants to prevent a religious person from following their faith as they see fit (as long as no one else is hurt by it). But the fact that the more devout a believer is, the harder they try to enforce their religious rule on everybody, should make everybody feel uneasy when we see religious organisations trying to infiltrate politics.
I couldn't agree more. I don't know any non-believer that wants to prevent a religious person from following their faith as they see fit (as long as no one else is hurt by it). But the fact that the more devout a believer is, the harder they try to enforce their religious rule on everybody, should make everybody feel uneasy when we see religious organisations trying to infiltrate politics.
Thaiis Thei 𓁟@ptapoo @MagdaSzubanski @jasongoroncy This kind of behavior is characteristic of only some religions. It is understandable that you would say this though as the religions that do this the most are the ones we are most familiar with here.
Elvin @ Rare i.T@MagdaSzubanski @jasongoroncy you may not be surprised to see that this organisation exists https://ffrf.org
Intuitive Counsellor@MagdaSzubanski @jasongoroncy Freedom From Religious Indoctrination, Freedom From Religion & unequivocally #CompleteSeparationOfChurch/State which means there is still a lot of institutional bias, racism & gender prejudice which needs addressing.
Wermland@MagdaSzubanski @jasongoroncy you're right 👍
Jim PembrokeSurely it is obvious to everyone that religion is a gateway to religious extremism which is a gateway to other forms of extremism.
If you believe one thing based on faith, what can't you believe ?.
And otherwise logical religious people enable irrational religious people to take that next crazy step.
The January 6 insurrectionists paused their ransacking of the Capital Building, bowed their heads in prayer to Jesus before continuing the looting.
The otherwise, law abiding Christians don't like this part of the narrative and that's why you don't hear much about it. #ChristianNationalism
@Jim_Pembroke @MagdaSzubanski Hi Jim. I appreciate you weighing in, and for highlighting the connections between some of what we are witnessing here in Aus (increasingly since the '90s) and the revitalised madness of Christian Nationalism, in the US (and elsewhere), emboldened by Yoram Hazony's work, among others. There's actually quite a lot of work being done on CN in the US, by both religious (e.g., @ProfB and Amanda Tyler) and non-religious types.
Abby@MagdaSzubanski @jasongoroncy so true. I think it’s the most dangerous system there is.
Kim@MagdaSzubanski @jasongoroncy I am of the opinion that since the beginning of time, the rich and powerful have been using religion as a tool to control the masses. Some people are reluctant to question the idea of a god, as they will be seen as trouble makers and outcasts. (Emperor's new clothes theory.)
Declan Donald