State religion?

[Schnell]

This is basically a response to the "Should homosexuals be allowed to marry" thread. In my view, religion being linked to the state brings up a contradiction.

1. Basic Christianity outlaws homosexuality.
2. The state shouldn't discriminate.

As long as religious organizations receive public funding and some religious rituals affect your relationship with the state, it has to conform to government policies where a private organization can do as it pleases. This leads to compromises, undermining the foundations of said religion and/or state.

As well as forcing people to pay for something they see as absolute nonsense.


Before this turns into "does God exist", this is not about the validity of religious beliefs. It is about the relationship between state and religious organizations.

 

[AcesHigh]

I don't support homosexuals. Against religion and humanity.

 

[Schnell]

I don't support homosexuals. Against religion and humanity.

Would you like to discuss the topic now that you've made a worthless argument about the example?

 

[DropKick Murphys]

I believe churches get tax breaks, tyro.

 

[AlpHaNiX]

I believe churches get tax breaks, tyro.

Church members; Tyro is subjecting.

 

[FreedomFight]

Religions can hold any sort of rituals they want. They still have no right to change the constitutional meaning of the separation of church and state.

There's absolutely no contradiction in marriage. Churches can refuse to marriage gay couples because they are prviate, but the state cannot refuse gay marriage for religious reasons only.

 

[tiger9110]

I believe churches get tax breaks, tyro.

I agree with what he said, churches do not need to pay property taxes like other builds do. so in reality a small group of people can easily fund the church without too many problems. And im thinking that its just socially unacceptable to tolerate homosexuality..however in this day in age its not as unacceptable as it used to be

 

[Schnell]

Fair enough, but breaks don't equate to money earned, just to reduced money taken, and, if churches who were strongly opposed to the idea of gay marriage were pressured to recognize it, I'm sure they would abandon the discount.

Money saved is money earned. What makes the church so special it shouldn't pay tax like every other private organization?

American system aside, let me tell you the situation here in Norway. The church do receive public funding, and the church recognize gay priests in fear of discriminating.

You tell me the church doesn't care about money:huh:

 

[Schnell]

Christians cite the notorious Leviticus quote as their biblical reference to homosexuality, but homosexuality is not what it addresses: it addresses sodomy. The Bible, nonetheless, is a draconian book of fiction. I assume it is fiction until its contents are have proven to occurred. This is reasonable. Furthermore, what is ''basic'' Christianity? There is no such thing as universal Christianity. There are different Christian groups. Some even support homosexual marriage.

Before this turns into "does God exist", this is not about the validity of religious beliefs. It is about the relationship between state and religious organizations.

.....

 

[Greggy]

At my grandmother's church, the state is offering to buy them their own church. As long as it's ran the way the state wants it to be ran. I think it's suspicious...

Edit: My grandfather is a preacher and my mom is a sunday school teacher. I don't know much about the religion and I only go like twice a year but these are my sources for knowing this.

 

[Terrankiller]

Church and State should be separate.

 

[tiger9110]

Church and State should be separate.

On what pretence/bais do you have when you make that statement? And who is at fault for the need to be seperated? The church or the state? Could it also be a struggle for power?