Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
In a democracy majority rules. In our republic, the minority have rights to protect them from the majority.
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Religion does not believe in rights. Religion is historically a dictatorship where a worshipped book or supreme cleric commands everyone what to think. Where minority viewpoints are considered heretics. That is contrary to principles of a democracy where the minority must have rights to be protected from the majority ... or a supreme religious leader.
In a democracy, the group (the little people) can change laws. In a religion, the faithful must obey the dictates of supreme clerics and laws that must not change because they existed long ago. If laws change, only a supreme being (human or god) can change them.
In a democracy, rules are routinely changed to meet changing conditions and the advancement of mankind. A democracy is pragmatic and tolerant. Religion is idealistic; historically resistant to change. Religion is intolerant. Will even castigate, decapitate, isolate, or 'Spanish Inquisition' anyone who contracts rules that must never adapt or change. Religion integrated into a democracy subverts many principles necessary for a democracy to operate.
Religion will even sponsor and incite wars against another religion. Democracies historically do not attack other democracies. The differences between a democracy and a religion are too vast and contradictory to share a common government.
But again, the US government will not recommend that separation of church and state when encouraging another nation to become democratic. Not defining those principles up front has gotten US diplomacy boxed into a no-win situation in Egypt. Imposing shiria laws onto government has gotten Egypt into their mess.