Religion and State, Never. Faith and Poliitcs, Always.
Right on, Rick Warren! Now let's hope he means it. But whether or not we trust his intentions, we can all learn from his words. The separation of church and state is one of the great ideas of the modern world. It attempted to end the thousands year old tradition, among all three Abrahamic faiths at least, of people using state power to kill other people in order to make God happy. But the idea that faith should be separated from politics is one of the worst expressions of "baby-out-with-the-bathwater" thinking that has come along in almost as many years. Instead of killing people for God, we tried to kill God for people, only that has worked so well either.
We have managed to kill as many people over the last two hundred years, without God in the mix, as we did in the thousands of years before. So maybe we need to try something else. Instead of killing off either God, or those who don't share our beliefs, perhaps we should reintegrate the two in a healthier way. That is what I find so useful about Rev. Warren's comment.
Neither the state nor religions are well served when they are one and the same - not in America, not in Saudi Arabia, and not in Israel. But neither are they maximized when they are totally disconnected from each other either. Our faiths, the beliefs which animate our lives, whatever they may be, must inform our politics if they are to be anything more than occasional, spiritual entertainment. Our beliefs, if deeply held, will always affect our politics, if we actually care about people other than ourselves.
Faith, or the lack of it, is a personal matter and must always remain so. But the values and commitments that flow from that personal decision must be about something larger than our own personal lives. If not, neither our faith nor our lack of it, is anything more than narcissism with good footnotes. The real test is not whether that which we believe has a political agenda, it is whether or not the faiths and politics we profess, leave room for the agendas of others.
By
Brad Hirschfield
|
August 20, 2008; 8:01 AM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: No Theocracy Here: Saddleback Does What American Christians Have Always Done |
Next: Faith Quizzes Get an F
Posted by: shafiuddin | August 24, 2008 3:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Shafiuddin,
What did islam solve since 1400 years ?
Posted by: halozcel | August 22, 2008 10:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Islam reject such Ideas, because Islam does not recognize any other way of life, because it has a complete solution of the life, whether it would be a politics, economic, social, cultural or any. When you have a belief and recognize other way of life then you have a option to separate state and religion. In order to run any governance you should have faith in real then you will be honest in your job and will not harm the society for peaceful running.
Posted by: shafiuddin | August 21, 2008 4:36 AM
Report Offensive Comment
JEWS CLAIMED THAT GOD PROMISES THEM THE LAND, based on this logic the ISRAELIS occupied and encrouched by force the land belonged to the Palestinean, not only grab the land but also continuosly terrorising them for leaving, the world also watching & supports for them for this action. JEWS ALL ACTION TO SATISFY GOD.
Posted by: shafiuddin | August 21, 2008 4:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Religion and State, Never. Faith and Poliitcs, Always."
Great. Next time you can find a plurality of American voters who aren't all in a bunch about that kind of distinction being 'elitist,' I'm sure it'll do great by us.
Posted by: Paganplace | August 21, 2008 1:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
There is a big difference between spirituality and religion. Spirituality doesn’t have any dogma, fiction, or perversion. Spirituality is simply based on everything being connected and part of one body, with One Being behind it all. This is what Jesus A Christ was trying to communicate. It is that simple.
Politics being how various needs and wants are expressed and met or obtained how combined efforts are implemented and what joint ventures are formed and funded. Politics should include the view that we are all one; part of the same body. Religion should not be involved in Politics because it has become perverse in the eyes of the Lord it has become the house of hypocrisy not the House of God.
Posted by: Richard Thomas | August 21, 2008 1:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
People have faith in many different things. Socialist have faith in the government's ability to be all things to all people among other things.
Faith and religion are not identical and to state that they are is either a lie or a confession of appalling ignorance.
Posted by: Garyd | August 20, 2008 11:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"One of the darkest ages in the history of the World came about because the political power and religious power were combined."
People seem to have some difficulty understanding that 'political' (ie, divinely-ordained kingship) and 'religious' power played off each other for how long and to what effect and by what means.
It's not taught in schools, to be fair.
Posted by: Paganplace | August 20, 2008 6:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I would say that conscience and morals are absolutely necessary when you go to vote and discuss matters of policy, but the key is that a democratic government can never justly institute or favour any religion over its people.
Posted by: Ian Bushfield | August 20, 2008 1:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The meaning of the word "state" is pretty simple: it means our government. But "church" and "religion" tend to get confused. Religion is a world view that tells you how to live. A church is a political organization that promotes a particular, non-evolving, world view. If this organization is not identical with the state, it competes with the state. In a democratic state the world view changes periodically by changes in administration and legislation. This is not acceptable in a church whose existence depends on the preservation of a single world view. Therefore, in a democratic state, it is essential that churches of any kind be separate from the state.
Posted by: L.Kurt Engelhart | August 20, 2008 1:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Faith? Can you be more specific?
Do you mean faith in a God? Jehova, Allah, what?
Do you mean faith in an idea?
Do you mean faith in yourself?
Who's faith?
We're nearing the end of a faith-based administration lead by a man of supposed great faith.
Faith doesn't work. We need ideas that do work.
Please keep your "faith" to yourself.
Thank you.
Posted by: JBoy | August 20, 2008 12:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"We believe in separation of church and state, but not faith and politics." – this statement is evasive and dishonest. It is meant to give solace to Americans that imagine that they would be happier living in a theocracy.
What happened to separation of church and state?
Do we have to suffer fools who pander to radical Christian theology rather than telling the American people that in order to represent all the people, the Constitution requires political representatives to set aside their particular religious views influence decisions and policy?
Have Americans have become so naive that they are willing to give up a fundamental principle upon which their rights are secured?
Are Americans happy to be ignorant of the differences between religious myth, morality and human rights?
Are Americans no longer capable of the intellectual vigilance required to reject a self-serving theocracy and maintain a constitutional democracy with the goal of equal freedom for all?
Posted by: Jay | August 20, 2008 12:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Thank God for Separation of Church and State
One of the darkest ages in the history of the World came about because the political power and religious power were combined. From 538 A.D. until 1798 A.D. The Papacy ruled the World and millions were killed. This is a history that the World should never ever want to repeat.
The founding fathers of our country were aware of the Dark Ages and many were fleeing the dark ages and wanted to be sure that what happened during those 1260 years of the Papacy would never be repeated.
Eddie
Posted by: Eddie | August 20, 2008 12:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.

Twitter










HALOZCEL:
Islam provides solutions, people donot want to practice and follow means it is the problem of follower. By the way even Muslims want to follows, the non-muslims interefere by various means.
In order to know moe about Islam please visit website: www.irf.net