One of the favorite mantras of the Religious Right, and those GOP candidates that are running for President of the United States, as well as talking-head politicians that like to get their face on television, is that they can insert religion into our government, by mandate, based on the fact that atheist, Satanists, and otherwise other evil people have created a Secular Theocracy.
Thus, by the air-tight logic of "I can do it because you did it," they can create their own theocracy, using the One True God, rather than whatever they deem the atheists, Satanists, and otherwise nefarious blokes consider their god/s. Only, if you ask them if they plan on creating a theocracy, they will waffle around, deny it, then turn the conversation back to the fact that the secularist (atheists, Satanists, and otherwise naughty peeps) community has successfully created a Secular Theocracy, etc., etc.
There's a small problem: There is no such thing as a Secular Theocracy.
By definition, it just isn't possible.
As you can see, the definition of 'theocracy' needs a god. By definition, 'secular' cannot have a deity. Thus, you cannot have a Secular Theocracy.
But then, the slippery blokes claim that government is the atheists', Satanists', and otherwise horrid mindbots' god, thus smugly concluding that the American government is, in fact, a secular theocracy. But, the definition of 'secular' doesn't even remotely account for that probability.
What the Religious Right and their allies truly desire is what I alluded to in the second paragraph - the ability to statutorily mandate all sorts of theocratic laws - "because Johnny did it too." Except, Johnny didn't. Johnny...well...Washington, Jefferson, et al, divined a form of government that actually protected the religious from persecution by specifically not mandating a favored creed, even though many of them actually believed in God and spoke of him at length!
Religion (God/gods) have no place in our government, and yet our system of government provides a place for religion to flourish.
So flourish!
Oh wait...you are!
Thus, by the air-tight logic of "I can do it because you did it," they can create their own theocracy, using the One True God, rather than whatever they deem the atheists, Satanists, and otherwise nefarious blokes consider their god/s. Only, if you ask them if they plan on creating a theocracy, they will waffle around, deny it, then turn the conversation back to the fact that the secularist (atheists, Satanists, and otherwise naughty peeps) community has successfully created a Secular Theocracy, etc., etc.
There's a small problem: There is no such thing as a Secular Theocracy.
By definition, it just isn't possible.
Secular
Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.
Theocracy
A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.
God or god
The biblical creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.
or...
A superhuman being or spirit worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity.
As you can see, the definition of 'theocracy' needs a god. By definition, 'secular' cannot have a deity. Thus, you cannot have a Secular Theocracy.
But then, the slippery blokes claim that government is the atheists', Satanists', and otherwise horrid mindbots' god, thus smugly concluding that the American government is, in fact, a secular theocracy. But, the definition of 'secular' doesn't even remotely account for that probability.
What the Religious Right and their allies truly desire is what I alluded to in the second paragraph - the ability to statutorily mandate all sorts of theocratic laws - "because Johnny did it too." Except, Johnny didn't. Johnny...well...Washington, Jefferson, et al, divined a form of government that actually protected the religious from persecution by specifically not mandating a favored creed, even though many of them actually believed in God and spoke of him at length!
Religion (God/gods) have no place in our government, and yet our system of government provides a place for religion to flourish.
So flourish!
Oh wait...you are!
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