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interesting thread yorick.
ok. where to start... im usually against any type of government control over individuals. a big brother gov is something to fear. always. ive had many problems with it and i know people that has even worst experiences. and coming from argentina, that live under a dictatorship during most of the 70s that force my parents to flee the country or be killed for "left wing terrorists", i have a deep resentment against all type of gov or military control over the population.
that said, i have to acknowledge that some churches are quite forward and offensive in their recruitment of new followers, up to the point of preying on people in need or that are going through bad times. and the young are obviously that, young. so if their parents cannot protect them somebody has to do it. we have to agree that some religions are merely fachades to money making schemes (scientology comes to my mind). and some cults originate from a twisted human being (who usually thinks he is god) that is charismatic enough to trick people into giving him all their money, having sex with him, and then burning themselves in a big nice bonfire.
imho, religion is one of the most powerful weapons to dominate a persons mind. so i can understand the preocupation in govs that feel they are being infiltrated by foreign religions that try to change the way the society behaves and the moral standards it upholds. the french revolution is a good example of the power of the people. it disposed of two bad things (i dont like the word evil). monarchy and religion although this last one can be more controversial in its labeling. so the secular french gov, has some right to pass laws that try to make their society stay in the way it was intended to be back in 1789.
its a difficult subject, though. id like to hear (well, read) other points of view so i can think this over a different perspective.
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