Is there a case for making Christianity illegal?

[dbohm]

Before the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Christianity was in a precarious position. As it was not formally recognised as a religion, it was technically illegal to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. Sometimes Christians were tolerated and left alone, sometimes used as scapegoats, and other times actively persecuted. Judaism had a bumpy history too, however since it was considered an ethnic religion it was given legal status from the beginning.

Besides rumours about child sacrifice and orgies, it's chief danger lay in the fact that it recognised a more powerful Lord than Caesar. Many Romans believed their obstinacy in this matter especially deserved punishment and could have proven troublesome to the greater peace of Rome. As Pliny wrote himself in his letter to the Emperor Trajan, "Neque enim dubitabam, qualecumque asset, quod faterentur, pertinaciam certe et inflexible obstinationem debere puniri." 'For I was in no doubt that regardless of what they believed their inflexible obstinacy and pigheadedness definitely should be punished'. If it wasn't for that he regarded it simply as a base and excessive superstition - 'superstitio prava immodica'.

Even today we see Christianity in conflict with secular governments. In China for instance one of the reasons that makes an underground church illegal is teaching the Second Coming as it implies an authority more powerful than the Chinese Government. In most countries in the West, churches are exempt from equal opportunity legislation and also cannot be forced to administer Gay marriages. Also and this has become a particular problem in cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, priests are not obliged by law to relate crimes told in Confessional. Some recent psychologists and atheists have also argued that the concept of Hell amounts to child abuse.

Should Christianity be illegal again? Or at any rate should the State be given the power to decide what legally can or cannot be practised or believed in orthodox Christianity?

[Jax Agnesson]

[Replying to post 1 by dbohm]

The idea of making religious practice illegal is repellent, except where that practice infringes the rights of other persons..

[Bust Nak]

Should Christianity be illegal again?

It will back fire and back fire hard an attempt be made. Even the most militant of atheist who have no concern over religious freedom wouldn't suggest such a thing.

Or at any rate should the State be given the power to decide what legally can or cannot be practised or believed in orthodox Christianity?

I certain think religious organisation should be treated the same as secular organisations and not be exempt from any laws.

[Alchemy]

Before the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Christianity was in a precarious position. As it was not formally recognised as a religion, it was technically illegal to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. Sometimes Christians were tolerated and left alone, sometimes used as scapegoats, and other times actively persecuted. Judaism had a bumpy history too, however since it was considered an ethnic religion it was given legal status from the beginning.

Besides rumours about child sacrifice and orgies, it's chief danger lay in the fact that it recognised a more powerful Lord than Caesar. Many Romans believed their obstinacy in this matter especially deserved punishment and could have proven troublesome to the greater peace of Rome. As Pliny wrote himself in his letter to the Emperor Trajan, "Neque enim dubitabam, qualecumque asset, quod faterentur, pertinaciam certe et inflexible obstinationem debere puniri." 'For I was in no doubt that regardless of what they believed their inflexible obstinacy and pigheadedness definitely should be punished'. If it wasn't for that he regarded it simply as a base and excessive superstition - 'superstitio prava immodica'.

Even today we see Christianity in conflict with secular governments. In China for instance one of the reasons that makes an underground church illegal is teaching the Second Coming as it implies an authority more powerful than the Chinese Government. In most countries in the West, churches are exempt from equal opportunity legislation and also cannot be forced to administer Gay marriages. Also and this has become a particular problem in cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, priests are not obliged by law to relate crimes told in Confessional. Some recent psychologists and atheists have also argued that the concept of Hell amounts to child abuse.

Should Christianity be illegal again? Or at any rate should the State be given the power to decide what legally can or cannot be practised or believed in orthodox Christianity?

Legally in America I believe it would be unconstitutional but I also think it would be morally wrong.

I would not tell someone what they are allowed to believe and practice any more than I would want them to tell me what I am allowed to believe and practice.

The line should and in most western democracies is currently drawn at where those practices go against state law. Currently the Catholic Church has an excemption from the state law that says tey don't have to advise the Police about crimes heard in confession. This should be abolished. Doctors and Lawyers don't even have this excemption, they are oblidged to break patient/client confidentiality when it is apparent there is a risk to children and such. Why can't the church follow the same? There is no justification for it and it has obviously contributed to the situation we see the church in now.

[southern cross]

I don't think there is a case.
But what about restoring the circus maximus once in a while?
Nahhhh probably not with the vatican an' all next door.
Oh well just thinkin' out loud.

[Rkrause]

Before the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Christianity was in a precarious position. As it was not formally recognised as a religion, it was technically illegal to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. Sometimes Christians were tolerated and left alone, sometimes used as scapegoats, and other times actively persecuted. Judaism had a bumpy history too, however since it was considered an ethnic religion it was given legal status from the beginning.

Besides rumours about child sacrifice and orgies, it's chief danger lay in the fact that it recognised a more powerful Lord than Caesar. Many Romans believed their obstinacy in this matter especially deserved punishment and could have proven troublesome to the greater peace of Rome. As Pliny wrote himself in his letter to the Emperor Trajan, "Neque enim dubitabam, qualecumque asset, quod faterentur, pertinaciam certe et inflexible obstinationem debere puniri." 'For I was in no doubt that regardless of what they believed their inflexible obstinacy and pigheadedness definitely should be punished'. If it wasn't for that he regarded it simply as a base and excessive superstition - 'superstitio prava immodica'.

Even today we see Christianity in conflict with secular governments. In China for instance one of the reasons that makes an underground church illegal is teaching the Second Coming as it implies an authority more powerful than the Chinese Government. In most countries in the West, churches are exempt from equal opportunity legislation and also cannot be forced to administer Gay marriages. Also and this has become a particular problem in cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, priests are not obliged by law to relate crimes told in Confessional. Some recent psychologists and atheists have also argued that the concept of Hell amounts to child abuse.

Should Christianity be illegal again? Or at any rate should the State be given the power to decide what legally can or cannot be practised or believed in orthodox Christianity?

No, in the USA we have the Constitution which allows freedom OF religion not freedom FROM religion.

All of your above examples are found in secular societies as well not just in the Christian Church.

[playhavock]

This is a whole bunch of worms in a can that will never go back in.
I guess, if relgion was made illegal - there would be huge uprising and outcrys. No matter what that relgion was. I suport the notion of meny secularists that the chrich and state must remain seperate.... to a point - but where is that point - I think that those who do not take there childern to doctors should be leagaly punished for not doing so, this idea neads to die out - that for lack of better term "magical healing" will happen - it will not - it does not - people nead to be legaly responcible for inaction. Things like this I can see outlawing - but I'm honestly not sure where to draw what line and when

[Darias]

Outlawing religion only justifies the beliefs of the followers, even if their beliefs are false -- their goal for religious freedom is morally right.

Banning a belief system does not help people see reason outside of the faith -- it only attracts sympathy, support, and membership for the persecuted group. Whether it's Christians in Egypt or Muslims in America.

There is no justifiable case for banning Christianity or any other faith. Any system of governance that creates thought crimes and makes value judgements on personal choices is immoral.

If you want to smoke, go to church, drink, and eat junk food -- you should be able to do that without the government coming in to tell you how to live and what to think. I'm not fond of weed or polyamorous relationships but that doesn't mean I have the right to round up a "moral" majority to force the government to make those things illegal.

Any atheist who wishes to substitute the tyranny of one fiction(god) for another(government) should reassess the logical validity of their views.

When you endow your government with the power and authority to ban ideas and imprison people who hold them -- you and your group might be next on the list. After all, how does government decide what's best? Either through a majority vote, or through a dictator. Being a minority as we are, in a country where the majority would like to see us imprisoned or on a boat to Guatemala, I don't think it wise to suggest we ban their worldview.

[Divine Insight]

Should Christianity be illegal again? Or at any rate should the State be given the power to decide what legally can or cannot be practised or believed in orthodox Christianity?

I don't think that making a religion totally illegal is the way to go.

However, I can see evangelism being made illegal.

I can also see where it can be deemed to be "emotional terrorism" to tell people that some God will condemn them into a state of damnation if they don't accept the beliefs of a cult (i.e. Christianity).

I think there are already laws in place that state that this kind of emotional terrorism or pressure is illegal in terms of cults, for either attempting to gain members, or retain people who are already members of a cult.

Yet, this is a central theme of Christianity. If you don't believe it, join it, and support it, you are accused of "rejecting God" and branded as a heathen who will be condemned to hell fire by the God of the Cult.

That can be a highly emotional pressure, especially for children, even even anyone who is easily emotionally terrorized.

I would personally vote to make evangelism illegal, as well as having any claims of condemnation being tried as "Hate Speech".

To tell someone that they are rejecting God and are therefore an immoral person is indeed a hateful thing to say to someone. So it should be included in "Hate Speech".

No evangelism, and no hate speech.

If you want to believe in Christianity, by all means do so. Just keep it to yourself. That's my recommendation. Same goes for all other religions.

You can talk about your religion in terms of what YOU believe for yourself. But as soon as you start suggesting that someone else needs to be "saved" from your wrathful God, it becomes a hate cult, IMHO.

[TheJoshAbideth]

[Replying to post 1 by dbohm]

I think it depends... if for some reason Christianity were to all of a sudden start adopting Old testament doctrine as actually being true and following it... then yes, there are certain aspects of Christianity, like slavery, genocide and human sacrifice that then would stand against the current law of the land and should remain illegal.

I don't really see that happening as I see a trend in Christian thinking to be become more and more secular anyway - I do think evangelism is pretty annoying, but I disagree with divine when it comes to actually making it illegal. I think there would be a host of second amendment issues to get past - all though, it is illegal in Vegas... so who knows.