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0 pointsanalog316d ago0 comments

>>> It's the human value that welcomed slaves, prostitutes, wretches, merchants and kings as peers in something grander than economy or state or lineage or tribe or creed.

This sounds a lot like an appeal to democracy, yet it often seems that religion is at odds with democracy in our world. And given the choice between living in a religious society or a democratic one, I'd choose the democracy any day of the week. Not just for my own prosperity, but for the overall welfare of everybody.

The one thing that has heartened me about the new Pope is that he has spoken favorably about democracy.

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graemep6d ago

Modern democracy developed in societies dominated by religious values and at least partly because of those values.

What you describe as an appeal to democracy could also be described as a statement of Christian values. The idea that every individual matters and is loved by God is a core belief. There are some quotes in my other comments, but I think this is worth adding. https://biblehub.com/galatians/3-28.htm

analog31OP6d ago

This is indeed the paradox. I call it a paradox because it seems like religions value those things on paper but religious societies counteract them. I'm as puzzled as anybody as to the root cause.

The development of democracy may have been a reaction of religious people towards their own religions.

graemep6d ago

It depends on what you mean by a religious society. Do you mean theocracies ? Democracies with a religious electorate? Countries with an established religion?

analog31OP6d ago

Yes. ;-)

Granted there are only so many countries, so it would be hard to see a clear statistical picture. And it's complicated by the fact that religion may be secondary to democracy as a predictor of well-being. But I don't know of a country right now (or a region in the US) where the influence of religion on governance is a cause for optimism about the future of democracy.

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graemep6d ago

Modern democracy developed in societies dominated by religious values and at least partly because of those values.

analog31OP6d ago

The development of democracy may have been a reaction of religious people towards their own religions.

graemep6d ago

It depends on what you mean by a religious society. Do you mean theocracies ? Democracies with a religious electorate? Countries with an established religion?

analog31OP6d ago

Yes. ;-)

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