Don't like it? Get out!

[Kitsune]

Aussie Gov't Ministers have stated their position on Muslim extremism. This is pretty amazing stuff:

Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that australia was a secular state and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he said on national television. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that is false.

If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to other country which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option," Costello said.

A lot of people are cheering this as the "line to be crossed" and note they think the US should make the same statement. I think that's great! So when I made minor changes to the article to reflect the changes they suggested, their opinion changed, suddenly.

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which based on religious law or a theocratic state, then The United States is not for you."

Huh. I wonder why they didn't like that?

[Elspode]

Under current trends, the statement here would probably come out something along the lines of, "If you don't like a government founded and run on Christian principles, then perhaps the United States is not for you."

Sheesh.

[Happy Monkey]

Or, in an attempt to seem inclusive, "Judeeeeeeoooooo-Christian Values," as Bill O'Reilly says.

Originally Posted by Elspode

Under current trends, the statement here would probably come out something along the lines of, "If you don't like a government founded and run on Christian principles, then perhaps the United States is not for you."

Sheesh.

Sad but true, Patrick! And 3 cheers for Australia! Pakistan and Northern Indian have had endless problems because there are two sets of laws - secular versus religious. In the more rural, Muslim areas of these two nations, the Muslim clerics seem to win out.

Freedom of religion does NOT mean the freedom to impose your religious views on others. I don't care if every single person in the US except for one was an Evangelical Christian. The 800 million or so would have no right to impose their system of belief on the one who chose to believe differently.

[Ridgeplate]

The core problem is that religious law can easily be at odds with secular law. Additionally, secular law tends to be far more egalitarian where enforcement is concerned. Last time I read the U.S. Constitution, it did not really mention christian values or even the christian god. So many people base the fact that the original writers of the constitution were christian, but really, that was just coincidence. If Hindus had gotten here first...well, you get the point. Besides, we'd offed all the local american indians, so they didn't really get a chance to help. In any event, good for the Aussies. Now if only those barbarians down in New Zed would get the point...

[Elspode]

Look, man...if you're going to be rational, there's no place for you in the New Christian Right. Now, get in lockstep and start spouting the party line about our Christian Founding Fathers, and be quick about it!

[Trilby]

Oh. When I saw this thread I thought it was meant for the AG people. Pity.

[Bullitt]

Who the heck are these "AG" people I keep reading about..

Guess I don't frequent this place as much as I ought to.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Who the heck are these "AG" people I keep reading about..

Guess I don't frequent this place as much as I ought to.

In the last week, we've had an influx of several people from AudioGalaxy, a site that shut down. They are looking for a new home and came here. There's been a period of "adjustment" since then.

[Bullitt]

Oh boy that sounds like loads of fun [/sarcasm]

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by Elspode

Look, man...if you're going to be rational, there's no place for you in the New Christian Right. Now, get in lockstep and start spouting the party line about our Christian Founding Fathers, and be quick about it!

[Pie]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which based on religious law or a theocratic state, then The United States is not for you."
Huh. I wonder why they didn't like that?

This is why I voted for Kitsune as a Dwellar that I'd like to meet...

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by Pie

This is why I voted for Kitsune as a Dwellar that I'd like to meet...

You're insane for that vote, but I will buy you a beer for that.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Well, if you heathens don't like it, we've lots of good Catholic Mexicans to take your place. :p

Pakistan and Northern Indian have had endless problems because there are two sets of laws - secular versus religious. In the more rural, Muslim areas of these two nations, the Muslim clerics seem to win out.

Don't forget Canada. Quebec has accepted sharia law for their Muslims that prefer it.

So many people base the fact that the original writers of the constitution were Christian, but really, that was just coincidence.

If you do some reading on the "Founding Fathers", I think you'll find the influential ones, the ones that contributed most to the Constitution, were in fact not really Christians, or at best, Christian light.

Either way, they definitely wanted a separation from religion influencing the government, or being promoted by the government. That makes sense because they had seen all the shit, the mixing of the two had caused in Europe.

[OnyxCougar]

If I recall correctly, Sharia law is a set of specific rules and punishments that exist outside the "law of the land" of Australia (An out of my ass example would be: If you are Muslim, and you steal, you get the Australian punishment, but you also get the Sharia punishment, like your hand gets cut off.)

Please explain to me, since we're using Christianity as an example, what religious laws in the United States are you referring to?