🚀 go-pugleaf

"A secular democratic state is compatible with all of the different
religious views of the universe and with all religious organizations
precisely because it supports no religious faith, no religious
institution, and no dogma.  It can therefore treat all equally.  This is a
very important attribute of the state because the long history of
church-state relationships is one of state support of churches that claim
to have the true faith.  When there is no separation of church and state
and no secular society, there is more likely to be religious toleration
than religious liberty."  --John Swomley in "Religious Liberty and the
Secular State"

The above is an ideal we seem to be having problems with lately as
evidenced by all of the popular support for forcing religious oaths upon
public school children and religious slogans, songs and ritual into public
ceremony.

On Thu, 25 Oct 2001, Robert Knowles wrote:

> "Carol Lee Smith" <human@csd.uwm.edu> quoted SULLIVAN in message

> > This Is a Religious War
> > October 7, 2001
> > By ANDREW SULLIVAN

> > Perhaps the most admirable part of the response to the conflict that
> > began on Sept. 11 has been a general reluctance to call it a
> > religious war. Officials and commentators have rightly stressed that
> > this is not a battle between the Muslim world and the West, that the
> > murderers are not representative of Islam. [. . . ] The only problem
> > with this otherwise laudable effort is that it doesn't hold up under
> > inspection. The religious dimension of this conflict is central to
> > its meaning.

> Yep.

> We're just letting our typical political correctness
> whitewash this fact.  We still don't want to "offend"
> anyone no matter what they do.  Especially if it involves
> anyone's religion because we have been taught that
> "religious tolerance" is a great virtue.  But we should
> not let our tolerance blind us to the fact that everyone
> doesn't think like we do.
> 
> It may not be a "religious" war for us, but you can bet it
> is for them.
> 
> Muslims do not easily separate their religion from other
> aspects of their lives as readily as Westerners.
> 
> Our whole concept of a secular government is completely
> foreign to Muslims.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

"All religions are founded on the fear of the many and the cleverness of
the few." -- Marie Henri Beyle (Stendhal)