The Long Claw of the Law

Major disclaimer: I know next to nothing about politics. And I don't generally like to talk about politics. But this is a politically-oriented post. So be nice to me, even if I don't share your views. Because you want me to be nice to you despite your views, right?

I read an editorial today in my school paper. The writer said that he thinks the Christian Conservatives have too much of an influence on the Conservatives and are evil for "forcing" their beliefs on the nation.

Now, here's something that might shock a few of ya. I do kinda agree with him. I think there is some degree to which the Chruch should avoid trying to permeate itself through the government. It could be counter-productive to our mission of bringing others to Christ. In fact, that's the main reason why Thomas Jefferson wanted a "separation of church and state": to protect the church.

Still, to think how far that term, "separation of church and state", has come. Now, we use it to attack the church, not protect it. Also, "separation" has become much more, well, separate. A lot of America just doesn't want Christianity to have anything to do with the government.

However, the truth is, it's separation of church and state, not separation of church from state. Because you can't do that. Christianity just had way too many undercurrents in the government from the start, and it's going to take a lot more than the legalization of abortion and gay marriage to change that.

I'll come back to this point later.

It seems like the editorial writer wants to make sure that no religion's beliefs--in other words, no one's beliefs at all--to be forced upon others through the government. Which seems fine and all for most people, except... why does he want to force upon others through the government his beliefs about whether others should force their beliefs upon others through the government? (Paradoxial? Yeah, I know. )

Government and law is all about morality. It's about having a set of rules, based on beliefs about how humans should behave, to run a country in the best possible way. The only way to have a no-morality, no-enforcing-beliefs government is, well, anarchy. And though there are people out there who think that anarchy is the best, I'm sure that most people who don't want the enforcing of beliefs don't want anarchy either.

True, most laws are those that most people agree upon, like no murder. Still, there are those who believe that murder isn't wrong. And remember, morality isn't decided on majority rule. The government doesn't take polls to see what the majority of America believes on a certain issue and then make laws accordingly; otherwise, I have a feeling our country would be a lot different than it is now.

Laws are based on others' morals and beliefs. That's life. If you don't like it, I hope you don't believe that suicide is wrong.

Really, we Americans should be glad that they have the privelige to vote that we have. We get to have some say as to which people get to enforce their beliefs. Of course, that means that we play a part in enforcing our beliefs on others, but hey, the other option is not to vote, and y'all know what happens then. Seriously, that's why I say that church and state can't be separated from each other: the majority of Americans are Christian or share many Christian beliefs, and as long as they're voting, Christianity's beliefs are being channeled into the government and its laws.

Heh. Come to think of it, most of the people that are going to read this are also Christians. I'm really ranting to no one inparticular. Oh well. Rant over.