Should the USA and Europe become secularised?

Religion should not have anything to do with government. If someone want to practice a religion thats fine on a private level, but dont bring religious ideals into the making of laws. I think if people want to have a religious holiday they can have 5 days a year, kind of like sick time, to do whatever. I still dont get a day for festivus

 

I agree with that. It wouldn't be fair to abolish religious groups and still enjoying Christmas each year.

 

How many people who celebrate christmas give any thought to the birth of christ? It's just an excuse spend loads of money and over-indulge.

 

Religion shouldn't dictate laws, however I disagree with an absolute separation of church & state.
Let's be honest, the vast majority of people in North America & Europe are Christians.

 

The atrocities committed in the name of religion over the millenia was the reason the FF created a constitution that promised freedom FROM and freedom OF religion.Never the twain should meet. If church leaders want to shovel money and opinion into politics,which they have been doing--(and by the way--I just wonder why most church leaders seem to be right-wing republican--Jesus was conservative?Don't think so), then they should be paying taxes like the rest of us. Especially the mega-money machines as seen on TV. I don't want religious leaders telling me how I should behave and what rules govern me and conversly,I don't want politicians telling me how or if I should worship.

 

the funny part about this thread is the united states constitution does NOT say the phrase seperation of church and state anywhere in it's amendments or articles or even in it's preamble. what about the violence cause by godless people against believers? like the in soviet union and ukraine.

but as i see the push to secularise america even more, i see both the religious and the secular types intentionally try their damndest to dumb the masses down. then again without fear of reprucussion in the afterlife for one's misdeeds. what motives would a person have to be a good person in this life? if there really is no god as some say? what's thje point of doing right if we're not going to get punished for it by being reincarnated as a lesser being or burn in fire and brimstone?

 

The social contract that most of us learn as youngsters ,dictates that we have concern for others--respect and love if possible. It just feels good and is right to do so. Why would any deity create beings and threaten to burn them in the fires of some unknown and unknowable place for all eternity--I just can't accept that there is any truth to that. Those types of threats could not come from a loving deity but from deceptive humans attempting to frighten adherants into conforming to whatever particular beliefs that a particular "religious" human wants them to do. I don't need threats to know what my conduct should be.

 

Also ,your poll shows that people overwhelmingly believe in the separation of church and state.

 

That doesn't mean the majority outside of hipforums believe in it.
Most people here are either atheists or agnostic so it's no surprise what the results are. It's like poising that question on a Christian website.

I'm agnostic and have no issue with keeping things as is. My only issue is when governments claim things such as gay marriage, stem cell research and so on shouldn't be done because of religion.
Most countries however still allow those things and are considered Christian countries.