Separation of Church and State: Good for Christians, So Why Argue Agains It?

He refused to adopt the beliefs of the majority..

Simmering under the surface of the Conservative Party convention this week is a difficult marriage between social and fiscal conservatives.

And for those of us who are still giddy and hung over following the election of a Conservative majority, we may want to sober up a little bit.

You see, the social conservatives in the party are already trying to flex what they see as new muscle.

Witness the editorial today from Joe Johnson, of Nanaimo, B.C. published in Canada.com, "PM Must Use Majority to Return to Christian Values"..  followed by a call for the PM to outlaw gay marriage and abortion.

Really Joe?

You are a big believer in theocratic government are you?

Big fan of the Taliban?

Saddened to hear of the recent demise of Osama Bin Laden?

Because that's what you, and others of your ilk are asking for.  Abolishment of the fundamental democratic principals requiring separation of church and state.

Of course, because you are convinced of your righteousness, you don't see that if you suggest that we base our government on "Christian" beliefs, you are, effectively, saying, "If the majority support a particular flavor of religion, that gives them the right to impose those beliefs upon all."

Which is fine, as long as you are in the majority, I suppose.

But what do you do if you live in an area which isn't of "your" faith?

I live in Southern Alberta.  Very large Mormon community.  Should we blithely permit our municipal government to outlaw consumption of liquor, coffee and tea?  No Tim Horton's allowed!

Or maybe you live in certain boroughs of Toronto, where there is a large Jewish population.  No sales of pork permitted - in fact, nothing but Kosher food here.

And god forbid we develop areas with broadly held hard-line extreme Muslim beliefs.  No reading classes for your daughter, thank-you very much.  You see, in our community, we are all supporters of extreme Muslim beliefs - and, as you have suggested, Joe, majority rules, no?

In matters of faith, the answer is simple. 

No.

Religion is a private matter between a person and their God.  On this point, there can be no debate or discussion.  No matter how convinced you may be of your "rightness" and your impassioned need to "save" your neighbor, you and I have no right to impose our religious beliefs on others. 

Now - the response I often receive when I engage in this debate is, "But this country is founded upon "Christian" values, and if people wish to come to our country they should accept that."

Except that's not actually true, now, is it?

Because in fact, our country was founded upon traditional aboriginal spiritual beliefs.  And that was only changed by way of conquest of a larger and more powerful population. 

So - if you want to blur or remove the principal of our democracy which requires a separation between church and state - feel free, but consider the precedent that you will set should Christianity fall to the minority in this country.

Consider the history of persecution of early Christians who fought and were killed in the effort to engage in full freedom of their faith, only to now, apparently, have the small-minded and misguided, seek to destroy that same freedom which ultimately allowed Christianity to flourish.

Consider that, perhaps, for just a moment.

And then learn how to kneel and pray towards Mecca.