Separation of church and state
I'm just listening to NPR this Sat. morning and they are talking about the riots going on in Afghanistan over the burning of some Korans in Florida. They mention that Afghanistan has laws against blasphemy and conversions. Punishments are often death.
The idea of having laws against blasphemy is an anathema to me, as an American who firmly believes in the separation of church and state, but who also understands that much of our early history had no problem with the state promoting and incorporating and defending particular religious views, and persecuting others. All the more reason to keep the two separate.
But when I hear about this in other countries, backward countries one might say, I always think of my former state rep, a wonderful person who did a tremendous job for her constituents, but who I think must have gotten a bit senile towards the end. I don't remember the exact incident now, it may have been the controversy over the showing of the movie "The Last Temptation of Christ" or perhaps it was the Piss Christ exhibit (which never came here as far as I know). In any event, this fine woman got it in her head that she wanted to pass a law that made ridiculing a religion illegal. I was appalled and astounded that she would EVER suggest such an un-American and unconstitutional law.
The vast array of things that would have to be banned or made illegal is too great to mention, from editorial cartoons to Mark Twain (The 'Diaries of Adam and Eve' surely mock God!) The notion that America would be like Iran, who put out a death sentence on Salmon Rushdie for his writings.. is just frightening. Even though I am sure the sentence would not be as severe, the idea is the same. Silence dissent. Because dissent is what makes us the great country we are. Putting out our ideas for public scrutiny. And that includes our ideas on religion.
It's frightening that a country would kill other people for disrespecting their religion, but it's also frightening that a country might in any way punish someone for their opinions on religion, and that's what many of us fear from the "religious right". That some of them would be more than happy to go that far to control others. Even reasonable lovely hard working state reps.
The idea of having laws against blasphemy is an anathema to me, as an American who firmly believes in the separation of church and state, but who also understands that much of our early history had no problem with the state promoting and incorporating and defending particular religious views, and persecuting others. All the more reason to keep the two separate.
But when I hear about this in other countries, backward countries one might say, I always think of my former state rep, a wonderful person who did a tremendous job for her constituents, but who I think must have gotten a bit senile towards the end. I don't remember the exact incident now, it may have been the controversy over the showing of the movie "The Last Temptation of Christ" or perhaps it was the Piss Christ exhibit (which never came here as far as I know). In any event, this fine woman got it in her head that she wanted to pass a law that made ridiculing a religion illegal. I was appalled and astounded that she would EVER suggest such an un-American and unconstitutional law.
The vast array of things that would have to be banned or made illegal is too great to mention, from editorial cartoons to Mark Twain (The 'Diaries of Adam and Eve' surely mock God!) The notion that America would be like Iran, who put out a death sentence on Salmon Rushdie for his writings.. is just frightening. Even though I am sure the sentence would not be as severe, the idea is the same. Silence dissent. Because dissent is what makes us the great country we are. Putting out our ideas for public scrutiny. And that includes our ideas on religion.
It's frightening that a country would kill other people for disrespecting their religion, but it's also frightening that a country might in any way punish someone for their opinions on religion, and that's what many of us fear from the "religious right". That some of them would be more than happy to go that far to control others. Even reasonable lovely hard working state reps.