[MD] Theocracy, Secularism, and Democracy

[david buchanan]

Steve said:
I'm wonderring where to draw the line so that MLK is viewed as committed Christian and committed democrat while Bush is revealled as a sometimes theocrat who undermined democracy. How ought a religious person work within democratic means to promote their conception of the good so as not to be a theocrat?



dmb says:

First of all, MLK was a preacher and Bush was the President. One wanted to end bigotry and extend rights to more Americans and he did so from the pulpit, which was about the only respectable occupation a black man could have in his day. The other was as privileged as a prince and invoked the name of God to flatter himself and to wage war. Gee, that's real tough call.

But seriously, there no reason that a religious person has to fear the first amendment or secularism. If your religious views are respectable, then people will respect them. I think it's as simple as that. 

If the Tea Party candidate wins, she'll be a law maker for six years. Her view on abortion is contrary to the law, by the way. The supreme court has decided that anti-abortion laws are a violation of our rights. Theocracy is also against the highest law, the highest. I mean, the line has been drawn already and it sure would be nice if our political candidates actually understood and respected the system they're supposed to serve. 

I think you can clearly see the distinction between social and intellectual values here. It's entirely possible to be religious without being dominated by social level values. It's also entirely possible to make a case against abortion without invoking divine sanction for those views. But if we're talking about what's actually going on rather than a hypothetical case, these people are killing doctors. C'mon. If we're going to be concerned with militant extremists, let's get real eh? That same Senate candidate has also said that our national problems might require a "second-amendment" solution. 
You know that one? The right to have a gun. What do you call somebody who wants to solve political problems with guns ig not a militant? A terrorist, maybe? A good Christian? A religious person just like MLK?

I heard Glen Beck is going to give a speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the same date as MLK gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. You remember Glen. He's the one who told Fox News viewers that the President is a socialist with a deep-seated hatred of white people. Devout man. Mormon, don't you know. Guess he's got just as much moral authority as MLK. See you by the reflecting pool.