Separation of Church and State

 I'm gonna be a bit American in this post, mostly because that's where I live and what I'm most familiar with.  But I want to talk a bit about Separation of Church and State...what it means and why that's SO important for everyone.

First, let's talk about what it means.  In many places, throughout history, there has been a dominant religion, and this was often supported by the ruling government.  There was often an official religion, and laws that supported those religious beliefs.  This could include making laws that hinder, or make it outright illegal, to practice a different religion.

What I find interesting is that often the separation was created to protect religion and keep it 'pure' (and out of the political realm).  I think there is something really wise about this, from a religious standpoint.  People shouldn't feel like they have to follow a specific religion, they should practice the religion that they feel is the right match for them.

I also think that our modern world is simply too connected (and in some ways too separated) to support official religions.  In many places, there isn't a proper dominant religion (and I don't count Christianity as a whole, simply because so many branches of Christianity do not agree on very basic tenants), especially now that people can learn about so many different faiths online.  On the flip side, we can't always just 'get up and move' to a place where our own faith is practiced (or at least protected).

Here's where I'm going to get a bit specific (to the US).  We are supposed to be a country with separation of Church and State.  We don't have an official religion...and yet we also do.  Whether I like it or not, our country is functionally Christian.  We have state holidays that are based on Christian religious holidays (and no other religion has officially recognized holidays).  Most people here assume everyone is Christian (which is so very close minded).  We have bits and pieces of Christianity spread throughout our lives, from the Pledge of Allegiance (which didn't include the phrase "under God" in it's original version) to simple things like saying God bless you when someone sneezes.  

But all of that is fairly benign.  Where it gets really scary is the way that many politicians and other people in power treat their faith as if it should be the golden standard to which all people are held accountable.  The fact that the bible is ever brought up in arguments about law is absolutely ridiculous.

What also really gets me seeing red is when some stupid law gets passed or a ruling gets made in a court somewhere that allows for religious exemption or practice, and then a non-Christian is like, "Cool, so I can do my own religion's practice here right?" and the people who were involved in the original law loose their minds because they assumed it would only apply to them.  Supporting prayer in schools comes immediately to mind.  So many people just have no concept of the fact that this means that other religions can represent themselves in this law...and that gets people all riled up.

It's this double standard that really bugs me.  The idea that if I want to pray to the Christian God, that is considered right and proper, and appropriate for children of all ages, but if I want to pray to Odin, suddenly I shouldn't be allowed to share my thoughts with kids.

I also find it absolutely mind boggling that, as people of other religions push back against the rampant Christianity that is dominating our country, Christians are crying out that they are getting persecuted against.  Because other religions want representation around the winter holidays, suddenly it's a war on Christmas and Christians.  I just don't understand how people can be so blind.

The thing is...I honestly feel like the world would be a better place if we kept Church and State separate.  Yes, there would be an adjustment period, and there will always be extremists who will take offense to any way but theirs being offered (and by the way, can we please start talking about the bad parts of some religions?  Every faith has their bad eggs, mine included, and ignoring them makes you look a little silly), but ultimately we create space for everyone to live...and prosper!

I always thought it was silly to not let people have their holy days off...and yeah it makes things a bit more complicated, but it also creates opportunities.  If Christians get Christmas and Easter off, why can't I get Sabbats off?  I'm happy to work on Easter if I can get Ostara off.  Imagine a world where everyone worked together to keep things functioning all year long.

And while we're on the topic, let's do something about Sundays!  Sundays shouldn't be a special day, because that's based on religion (and let's also not forget that Judaism considers Saturday the holy day of not working).  Let Christians have the option of Sundays as their guaranteed day off, let Jewish people take Saturdays, and let other people pick the day they want (based on their religion or just their personal needs).  Also can we not with the whole "stores can't sell alcohol on Sundays" (for the same reasons)?

I firmly believe that my government has NO business making laws specific to any religion.  We make laws to create a society that supports everyone, and basing any of those laws on one of the many, many religions of the world is just insane.  It may have worked in the past, when people didn't know better, but we should have grown up by now.  We should have learned that different doesn't mean evil, and that just because someone doesn't follow the same religion as you doesn't make them a bad person.  We are waking up to SO much, we need to wake up to this as well.