Religion... er... I mean Politics!

[Yorick]

First things first: This is a bit of a dangerous topic, so think before you speak. It's all to easy for this one to get heated, but I'm curious to ask.

So.

Just after reading the other thread by Beaumanoir, I was just wondering what everybodies beliefs and views on politics are? Necessary evil? Inevitable with more than one human? What do you think?

Personally, I just don't and can't see much good for any politics at all. I also find it impossible to believe in any of the big political parties at all. Maybe to the extent of Nihilpartyism. I, myself, am a loosely democratic socialistic capitalistic environmentalist theocrat.

I mean, of all the political strains, I think the one which is closest to the mark is either Ghandi's position (I think) or that prescribed in Leviticus (bring on the Jublilee year PLEASE! end third world debt!!!), but I can't see myself ever following or believing in anything that assembles humans together under human economic theory, regardless of how many people in the world claim to believe one system is better than the other.

Anyone?

And yes, except for the Jubilee year bit, my tongue is rather firmly planted in my cheek.

Long live the Laughing Hyenas! (where the heck is that "chief titterer" when you need him?)

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

(Grabs his Bible behind him)

..just looking up the reference in 1 Peter....

1 Peter 2 13-17
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Peter is telling us here that we should submit to the laws of our government, because they are good laws.

Obviously, I don't know all the laws, as I'm sure most people do not. Generally, though (at least here in Canada) the laws are good and worth upholding. And worth upholding until they go against my beliefs.

Our Parliament building has 26 different verses of scripture on it's interior walls.

There are many many corrupt governments and leaders today that we need to be wary of. I am immensely blessed to be living in Canada, when I see what goes on every day in so many other countries.

And as Yorick asked, I hope I don't cause things to get heated.

[Beaumanoir]

I don't really follow politics, to be honest. Especially the ones that don't affect me directly. I pay attention to the budget sometimes, and why the hell diesel is now £1.33 a litre, but aside from that I'm fairly apathetic about it.

Variol's post was interesting, but in a way which kind of sparks something for me personally. I don't think that religion should influence politics in a multi-cultural society, including atheists in this.
There's a big hoohah over here at the moment about whether English law should be modified to encompass muslim principles in relevant cases - which I disagree with, but, like I said, I disagree with any religious principles affecting the sway of a case. As far as politics go, I i) Feel that everyone should be treated exactly the same regardless of creed or lack thereof and ii) I think bringing it in to politics is forcing it upon people, whether in a slight way or not.

I despise being referred to as a 'Christian' country, which, officially we are, but from my experience, I know alot more agnostics/athiests than true Christians. Maybe it's the older generation, which, if thats the case, I imagine the whole thing with be extinct in 300 years in this country. Come to think of it, I know more muslims than practicing Catholics.

[ElfBane]

Run from anything that doesn't have a free press and, in general, ignores habeas corpus. Read about Europe under the semi-theocracy of the Catholic church, THEN tell me you would want a theocracy?? PLEASE! There is no tyranny worse than one that claims to be god-granted.

[Lavindathar]

You're first mistake Yorick was paying attention to any thread my brother made/posted in

But I do agree with him in this case.

And the election in England is coming up soon, and ive never voted before, as I hate politics. But when the time comes, whichever party says that fuel prices is gonna go down the most will get my vote. All gonna be based on that.

And with regards to religion, the way our country is now is bollocks.

One case springs to mind -

Muslim lady gets on a bus in Manchester, and shows her bus pass. But she has her religious face covering shizzle on. The driver asks her to remove it to see her face so he can check her picture against the bus pass.

She refuses. He will then not let her on the bus.

Six weeks later he was in court for racial discrimination. I mean, the Crown Prosecution Service actually believe the woman had a case and let it get to court. Thank god the judge had some sense and threw it out before it ever went any further. He said the bus driver was right, and they should all be treated the same. We nearly set a dangerous precident - so thank god for that judge.

If the judge was another way inclined, the bus driver could of ended up in prison for like six years for that- just doing his job.

[Beaumanoir]

It's ridiculous. It wasn't long ago that a muslim man, who was under investigation for alleged terrorism, snuck out of the country wearing a Burkha using a female passport. Think that was last year - all because whoever was on security was probably too scared to ask to check below it. Whilst I respect the religious importance of the Burkha in Islam, I think it should be restricted in certain areas. In England, I have seen them worn in Banks, Airports, Buses etc. When ANYBODY could be hiding underneath.

[Firestormalpha]

Originally Posted by Yorick And yes, except for the Jubilee year bit, my tongue is rather firmly planted in my cheek. Long live the Laughing Hyenas! (where the heck is that "chief titterer" when you need him?)

Umm, nuff said I think.

[Kyrvias]

Originally Posted by ElfBane PLEASE! There is no tyranny worse than one that claims to be god-granted.

True, true, and true, irrespectively.

Quite frankly, I'm all for a true seperation of church and state, which isn't the case anymore, quite frankly. Any politician that doesn't affiliate himself with god these days is a politician that won't win *anything*.

[Bungleau]

When I was in elementary school, I remember thinking that it was "right" that the people who were running for elected office should be doing so. I thought that they knew something that made it appropriate for them to be there.

Now... I often wonder how they end up there. It sometimes boggles the mind... on both sides. Is Obama running because he really has something to add and can make a difference? Or is he running because the party saw an electable minority and convinced him to? Did Hillary stay in so long because she had a higher mission to accomplish? Or was she just unable to read the signs that her campaign was dead? Is McCain really the best Republican candidate? Or is he just the one who stayed in it the longest?

Nowhere do I see plans for bettering the country. Everywhere I see claims to plans that will help people get elected.

I'm close to voting Libertarian or some other party that has no chance, just to lodge my one-vote protest.

[Lavindathar]

Originally Posted by Beaumanoir It's ridiculous. It wasn't long ago that a muslim man, who was under investigation for alleged terrorism, snuck out of the country wearing a Burkha using a female passport. Think that was last year - all because whoever was on security was probably too scared to ask to check below it. Whilst I respect the religious importance of the Burkha in Islam, I think it should be restricted in certain areas. In England, I have seen them worn in Banks, Airports, Buses etc. When ANYBODY could be hiding underneath.

Yeah remember that quite well.

Our country is a joke at the moment with all this religious tip-toeing.