Could America ever become a theocracy?

[bandXtrb]

Could America become a theocracy, if thats what people wanted?

If this doesn't make sense, then nevermind.

 

[glenn1]

<< Could America become a theocracy, if thats what people wanted? >>



Anything is possible, i suppose. I think it's highly unlikely though, if for no other reason than there would need to be a lot more theological concensus than there is now in the United States. Heck, even if the U.S. went with a plain vanilla Protestant theocracy, we'd never be able to decide which denomination to go with. (Protestant is AFAIK has the largest amount of adherents in the U.S., and that's laying aside the question of whether the concepts of Protestantism and Theocracy are even compatible in the first place. Lord only knows, i don't think "religious state" is the first thing which leaps to my mind when i think "Methodist."

 

[shifrbv]

When things aren't working out in the US under the current system, the founding fathers left us with one alternative: Constitutional Convention. If enough states call for this, any number of things can be changed. However, I also agree that it would be highly unlikely. Even the baptists can't get along with the southern baptists. And have you ever been to a Pentecostal church? Everyone who is not one of them will burn in hell. I just don't think these people could get along well enough to be an effective government and the people would revolt.

 

[NakaNaka]

no because of the constituion which clearly states the seperation between church and state.

 

[Siddhartha]

If it were done legally, it woulld take a constitutional amendment.

 

[jthsmak]

Jesus Christ of Nazareth I hope not. That would set us back 1,000 years of concious thought.

 

[Semper Fi]

No, I don't believe that would happen.




<< no because of the constituion which clearly states the seperation between church and state. >>



Where does it state this in the constitution?

 

[mithrandir2001]

I won't allow it!

 

[tcsenter]

<< clearly states the seperation between church and state >>

Well, it states something, but it doesn't 'clearly state the separation between church and state'. That is simply how its been interpreted.

What it does state is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" The prohibition was originally on Congress (a legislative body), which was then applied to the state legislative bodies via the 14th Amendment. Though, that still doesn't dispense with the prohibitive language "make no law". If I hang the 10 Commandments in my 4th grade elementary public school, have I "made law" (just an example, I'm not a teacher)? Only in the most expansively permissive figurative terms possible.

The constitution states something, but stating it clearly it does not (unless the current interpretation is flat wrong, then the amendment becomes very clear).

 

[Semper Fi]

That amendment is to protect religion from government, not government from religion.

And is NOT in the constitution or any founding documents.

 

[pulse8]

Well, in a country where you're free to have any religion, which is a constitutional right, you couldn't really have a national religion.