The Origins and Dangers of the ‘Wall of Separation’ Between Church and State

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I was just checking, DC. I wouldn't put that too far past the NEA...

[Major Robert Dump]

This is why it should be seperated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z91EMFz7j7g

[sharrukin]

Benito Mussolini, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao Zedong, and Adolf Hitler were atheist heads of state and proof that, yes, you can develop a separate tradition of ethics by secular means.

The Reich Concordat with the Catholic Church (1933)

Art. 32. In view of the special situation existing in Germany, and in view of the guarantee provided through this Concordat of legislation directed to safeguard the rights and privileges of the Roman Catholic Church in the Reich and its component states, the Holy See will prescribe regulations for the exclusion of clergy and members of religious orders from membership of political parties, and from engaging in work on their behalf.

There is a downside to separating entirely, morality and religion from the politics of the state.

[Devastatin Dave]

This is why it should be seperated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z91EMFz7j7g

Do you think the cameraman was shaking so badly because of trying to hold back a giant belly laugh or was convulsing in extreme abdominal pain from his bowels ready to rupture from the extreme multitude of off key notes?

[Major Robert Dump]

Do you think the cameraman was shaking so badly because of trying to hold back a giant belly laugh or was convulsing in extreme abdominal pain from his bowels ready to rupture from the extreme multitude of off key notes?

I don't know, was probably not a professional photographer but some staff member who snuck in with a camera and then sold it for big $$$$, or maybe he worked for John and was doing John a favor so the moment could be relished by he and his family forever. Either way, its comic gold, and I will forever cherish it.

[Duke of Gloucester]

I don't see the danger of the seperation. With the talibans, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan I see the danger of State Religions.

Speaking as someone who lives in a country with an official state religion (to which I don't belong), I would say that state religions don't always come with the dangers you associate with the three Islamic nations you identify.

[Ironside]

Speaking as someone who lives in a country with an official state religion (to which I don't belong), I would say that state religions don't always come with the dangers you associate with the three Islamic nations you identify.

But interestingly does this state religion have less influence here in northern Europe than in the US.

Ask yourself, what would happen with Blair if he said publically that the inspiration for the Iraq war came from God?

Would people care if it was public knowledge that he was Christian, but offically never based his decisions directly on it?

(Atleast in Sweden it would be a public outcry for the first, but none would care for the second).

Plenty of state churches exist or did recently exist in Europe (in Sweden they separated in 2000), they aren't much influencal nowadays though, and haven't been for decades.

[Duke of Gloucester]

That is, of course, exactly the point. In Europe, religion is less influential than in America, even though many European countries have links between church and state. Having constitutional links between state and church does not automatically mean significant political influence and expressly rejecting those links does not remove all political clout.

[Devastatin Dave]

Either way, its comic gold, and I will forever cherish it.

Agreed, its hard to type while pinching my nipples....