Democracy and Religion By T.S. Khanna, August 27,2016

Foundation For Better Government

                                 
                  


           Democracy and Religion

                                                   By T.S.Khanna, August 27,2016

Every religion has created its own image of God to use Him as a source of values, inspiration, and commands, assigned to Him by the religious leaders.  The followers are required to imbibe those values in their hearts, minds, thoughts, and actions without questioning, in the name of faith in “God’s Word”, not open for reasoning.  It is ingrained in them that unquestioning faith is superior to critical thinking or evolving human thought.  From childhood, the faithful are programmed to advance the cause of their religion for credits to improve their “after-life”.

The incompatibility of values assigned to God by various religious leaders has been the cause of numerous human conflicts.  All through history, more people have been killed due to religious conflicts than by any other cause.  Religions, in the past, have been used as well regimented political organizations to conquer, subjugate, and enslave other people with self-created moral justifications in the name of God.  Religions have not only been enemy to one another they have also opposed modernization that would change the agricultural setting and culture in which a religion was created and propagated.

In 1924, in the USA, as industrial economy started bringing about cultural changes, some religious fundamentalists condemned the changes as “a revolt against the God of Christianity” (Ref. Fundamentalism and American Culture, Marsden).

Now the march of industrialization and modernization is inexorable.  Learning about the advancing human knowledge is a necessity for everyone to adjust and comfortably live with the escalating pace of change.

In democratic governments, attempt has been made to keep the government separate from religion to enable people of different belief systems to form and run a common government for their common benefit.  However, from time to time, it has been evident that religion and government cannot be fire-walled from each other simply by declaring the intent in the constitution.  To the extent the democratic governments had success in keeping the religion independent of government, they also had a set-back in controlling the anti-governmental activities of religions.

To nip the problem at its root, the teachings and practices of participating religions may be required to conform to the constitutional values like (a) Equality of all people regardless of the race, religion, caste, ethnicity, or skin color; (b) Equality among women and men; (c) Freedom of thought, speech, and innovation; (d) Freedom to switch religion; (e) Natural rights of individuals, and similar other values.

Moreover, all religious places may be required to be open and accessible to people of all faiths.  Religions may no longer be allowed to act as political organizations or conspiracy clubs.  Non-conforming religions may not be given the benefit of constitutional protection and tax exemption.  Democratic governments may encourage religions to improve the plight of humanity and not allow any teachings or practices running counter to that purpose.

To avert or minimize human conflicts and disasters in the future, we need to consider making democratic governments less democratic and dictatorial governments less dictatorial.  Democratic governments in the present form do not seem be sustainable.

NOTE: Recommended Book, "Ancient Religions, Modern Politics" By Michael Cook, Princeton University Press, 2014.