Do Religions Have A Right to Tear Down Democracy?

It is clearly wrong for any faith to dictate to all others.

madmikesamerica.com

(SALEM) - We Americans like to tell ourselves we live in a Land of Democracy and Freedom. Every time we have a presidential election year, we act like cheerleaders to convince the outside world. However this may be becoming a form of mythology, of collective self-delusion.

In recent years, various religious communities have organized themselves to try to insert their gospel into one-size-fits-all legislation. In so doing, they squelch true democracy by imposing their version of right vs. wrong onto other faiths than their own. Many of us find this as a form of collective tyranny.

It is clearly wrong for any faith to dictate to all others.

The issues involved are themselves power-packed with emotion. Therefore, those who attempt to advocate may at times abandon the canon of reason. Their cannon fodder prevails. But is it rational for one religious order to demand that everyone conform to their value system?

Over recent years, three divisive issues have aroused the zealots of some congregations:

• Public Prayer in Schools: This forces students to blindly embrace a form of worship;
• Legality of Abortions: Opponents disregard diversity of religious and personal views;
• Same Gender Unions: Once again, should a given faith write the rules for all?

Let's look at a few hypotheticals and follow the implications. If Hindus ran the USA, would we tolerate calling cows "sacred" and banning meat products? Suppose Muslims were the majority faith, would we close down all restaurants to fast during Ramadan? Imagine that our Jewish community won the most seats in Congress; could we endorse a law requiring no telephones or public transit to operate on Friday night and Saturday, the Jewish sabbath? I am very dubious.

It is appropriate for a specific faith to set ground rules for its followers, but not beyond that.

We would vehemently object if Canada or Mexico automatically imported its legal system to the US and imprisoned any American found in violation. Religious laws merit the same respect.

In Genesis, the Lord declares: "Let there be light!" Millenia later, where is that enlightenment? Is it being eclipses by the forces of intramural politics?

Salem-News.com Community Writer Barry Lee Coyne brings to our readers stories from his combined career of journalism and gerontology, and explains that these paths shaped his values. Lee Coyne once worked for The Civil Service Leader in NY State and covered the Legislature. He has also done features on mediation and arbitration, and believes in healthy skepticism. This writer-therapist often views the world as the masks of comedy and tragedy placed upon the scales of justice. For him, optimism inevitably wins. "Lyrical Lee" has traveled to 30 nations aboard and was once a press intern at the UN. His first published article was in The NY Daily News in '59, dealing with the need for integrity in public office.

He also launched the nation's first tele-conference on health education for shut-ins, created the Eldermentors project in VA to pair retirees with immigrant students needing role models, and was the main catalyst behind CCTV's "Public Public" panel show here in Salem. Lee received his BA in International Relations and an MSW in community organization. He currently serves as a member of Salem's Library Advisory Board. To send Lee an email, please write to this address: luckycoyne@yahoo.com