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filtherton · 06-24-2004, 01:12 PM

I'm just trying to understand how a democracy can be based on christian ideals. Keep in mind that i use the term christianity in a general sense, not a specific all encompassing "i understand everything about all of christianity" sense. Maybe this should be in philosophy. Probably.

In a democracy, the citizens vote for representatives who they feel most closely represent their political goals. Or they vote against the candidate whose view most contradicts their own. This is possible because a fundamental implication of democracy is that there is more than one way to skin an eagle. A diversity of ideas is a good thing and homogeneity results in stagnation.

Christianity is the exact opposite of democracy in many crucial ways. First and foremost is the fact that in all christianity the ruler is not elected. The people's opinion doesn't matter. God is king(or queen). This coupled with the fact that fundamentalist christianity paints god as somewhat of a sadist makes christianity more akin to a despotism than a democracy.

Another difference is in the decision making process. In much of christianity there is no decision making process. There is god's divine will and there is heresy. (sounds parallel to the idea that one is either a patriot or a terrorist) In majority christianity there is one true way, one way to think, one way to look at the world, one way to be righteous, and an infinite number of ways to go to hell. In a democracy, if the people decide that a law is unecessary or detrimental it is within their power to change it. In christianity they are forced to abide or go to hell.

I don't understand where america's rich judeo christian traditions fit in. It seems to me that much of what america is flies in the face of what christianity is.

Another thing that puzzles me is the idea put forth in the pledge of allegiance that america is a nation under god. Does that not make us a theocracy? What is the point of a democracy when everything your country does is implicitly divine in origin? If we were truly a nation under god could we not be as succesful under communism or monarchy? It seems like the form of government is irrelevant if god is pulling all the strings anyway.

06-24-2004, 01:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	Democracy v. Religion I'm just trying to understand how a democracy can be based on christian ideals. Keep in mind that i use the term christianity in a general sense, not a specific all encompassing "i understand everything about all of christianity" sense. Maybe this should be in philosophy. Probably. In a democracy, the citizens vote for representatives who they feel most closely represent their political goals. Or they vote against the candidate whose view most contradicts their own. This is possible because a fundamental implication of democracy is that there is more than one way to skin an eagle. A diversity of ideas is a good thing and homogeneity results in stagnation. Christianity is the exact opposite of democracy in many crucial ways. First and foremost is the fact that in all christianity the ruler is not elected. The people's opinion doesn't matter. God is king(or queen). This coupled with the fact that fundamentalist christianity paints god as somewhat of a sadist makes christianity more akin to a despotism than a democracy. Another difference is in the decision making process. In much of christianity there is no decision making process. There is god's divine will and there is heresy. (sounds parallel to the idea that one is either a patriot or a terrorist) In majority christianity there is one true way, one way to think, one way to look at the world, one way to be righteous, and an infinite number of ways to go to hell. In a democracy, if the people decide that a law is unecessary or detrimental it is within their power to change it. In christianity they are forced to abide or go to hell. I don't understand where america's rich judeo christian traditions fit in. It seems to me that much of what america is flies in the face of what christianity is. Another thing that puzzles me is the idea put forth in the pledge of allegiance that america is a nation under god. Does that not make us a theocracy? What is the point of a democracy when everything your country does is implicitly divine in origin? If we were truly a nation under god could we not be as succesful under communism or monarchy? It seems like the form of government is irrelevant if god is pulling all the strings anyway.