- Moderator
- #361
The inquisition was a STATE endeavor.so the constitution doesn't matter, eh?
you going to start another inquisition? miss the old christian religion?
that doesn't even make sense.
Sure it does. When the state CONDONES a particular religion and rolls it's power into the Church is where BOTH the Inquisition and the Crusades sprang from.. Without State sanction -- what kind of jails and soldiers and henchmen did the CHURCH have?
It's the same deal today with tyrannical Theocratic Arab governments. About 20 who run by Sharia law OR have adopted much of Sharia into their legal code. That's why those daily barbaric executions, amputations and stonings are so widespread. And why the GOVTs in that region all sponsor proxy armies to go fight EACH other over tribal and religious differences.
It's when the STATE gets involved -- that religions become malignant..
Once upon a time state and religion were the same. That's the problem.
But it's interesting how you word it - once the state gets involved.
I see it more once religion amasses POLITICAL or STATE power, it becomes malignant. The state is a neutral entity that can be used by the majority to force it's desires on others. People do this...not the state. The direction comes from religion - church or mosque - what ever - which harness' the power of the state.
Monarchies were NOT "neutral entities". In fact the power of the crown most OFTEN came from God.
Our founders recognized that as a primary problem. And gave us the antidote.
I meant the state as "the state" - it's neutral in that it has no inherent dogma or direction - it's what ever the ruling whatever put into it.