Many times when I mention the threat posed by the religious right in America, I get a dismissive response. The thinking usually seems to be that if we just give the theocrats some school prayer and vouchers and overturn Roe v. Wade for awhile that will keep them happy. This seems quite bad enough to me, but even more disturbing is the full implication of tearing down the wall of separation between church and state: We must remember that religious notions of power are universal.
So, if you meet someone who doubts whether separation of church and state is really that important, just point out:
"Once you give someone arbitrary power, you have given him all power."
Religion is a limitless theory. It covers whatever the members of the religion say it covers, and does so in the way they say is right.
That's bad enough for a supposed hypothesis of fact, but when you turn it into a political theory, it's clear you are proposing giving someone arbitrary and capricious power over all aspects of your existence.
So, if you meet someone who doubts whether separation of church and state is really that important, just point out:
"Once you give someone arbitrary power, you have given him all power."
Religion is a limitless theory. It covers whatever the members of the religion say it covers, and does so in the way they say is right.
That's bad enough for a supposed hypothesis of fact, but when you turn it into a political theory, it's clear you are proposing giving someone arbitrary and capricious power over all aspects of your existence.
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