Should society become secular?

[Regulus]

[quote="Juliette"]I think it should be secular, but I also think that there's nothing wrong with wearing a symbol of your religion. Simply wearing a cross does not make one a Christian, nor does wearing a pentagram make one a Wiccan, or Satanic, or whatever. I wear what I like. I have no religion, but that doesn't stop me from wearing their symbols if I like them. And the people who do have religions should still be allowed to wear their symbols to show that they are of that faith if they so choose.
But religion has no place in the government, and should be kept off of and out of all federal materials and matters. I think it's wrong for say, our money or courthouses to say things like "In God we trust," when not all of us do.[/quote]

Exactly. There's a difference between saying "I believe in this religion" and "We believe in this religion." The former is acceptable, the latter is not.

[Baya]

Then I can wear a Swastika on the street right? It doesn't make me a Nazi, I just like how it looks.

*and btw, I know the Swastika was a symbol for peace before the Nazi's. Do not come in here with that argument, because it is utterly invalid. I'm trying to point out that its' not the fact that you are wearing the symbol, but what the symbol represents. Religion isn't something to be proud of, its' a personal matter. Do you go outside your home and tell everyone about what you do in the bathroom? I would hope not.

[WildSimba]

[quote="Baya"]Then I can wear a Swastika on the street right? It doesn't make me a Nazi, I just like how it looks.

*and btw, I know the Swastika was a symbol for peace before the Nazi's. Do not come in here with that argument, because it is utterly invalid. I'm trying to point out that its' not the fact that you are wearing the symbol, but what the symbol represents. Religion isn't something to be proud of, its' a personal matter. Do you go outside your home and tell everyone about what you do in the bathroom? I would hope not.[/quote]

That wouldn't explain why a lot of people go to Church. And what you believe in IS something you should be proud of, and it's really intolerant to say otherwise. People SHOULD be allowed to wear things that express their religions. For some people, actually a lot of people that's a big way of expressing themselves.

And I don't care what anyone says, Nazism is not a religion. It's just as much not a religion, as being a Clan member would. So wearing a Nazi symbol would not be promoting a religion. And even then, if they want to wear that symbol, they should feel free. They obviously won't be the most liked person for it, but they should have the freedom to do it. And it WAS a peace sign before the Nazi symbol, and it actually still is. The Nazi Symbol is tipped sideways a little bit, and the peace symbol is completely straight. So if someone were to wear that peace symbol, it wouldn't make them a Nazi, get it?

[KentuckyWildcat]

I take the middle approach. The government should not endorse a particular religion, but public displays of religion should not be forbidden. Whether they will admit it or not, secularism becomes a religion itself when its proponents work agressively to eliminate religion from public life.

[Carl]

[quote="Baya"]Then I can wear a Swastika on the street right? It doesn't make me a Nazi, I just like how it looks.

*and btw, I know the Swastika was a symbol for peace before the Nazi's. Do not come in here with that argument, because it is utterly invalid. I'm trying to point out that its' not the fact that you are wearing the symbol, but what the symbol represents. Religion isn't something to be proud of, its' a personal matter. Do you go outside your home and tell everyone about what you do in the bathroom? I would hope not.[/quote]

Well, of course people would assume you were a Nazi for wearing it, but that still doesn't mean that you actually are one. And, whether you are a Nazi or not, it should not be the government's place to tell you that you can't wear the symbol. But I agree with WS anyway, Nazism isn't a religion. And I was mostly thinking of the cross, anyways. I know all kinds of people who wear crosses but don't have religion.
And even if the symbols were banned, people would still wear them, anyway. They'd have them on necklaces tucked into their shirts.

[NalaKiaraTani]

Society should become no one thing. There should be freedom of religion for all. Although when America turned it's back on God, denying itself as one nation under Him, that's where we failed.

[Woeler]

In a 1000 years society will be secular, or we will no longer be

[SlayerOfLight]

in my opinion it should remain like this and let people choose their own faith. however, christians should have the right to at least INFORM other people about their faith, because non-believers also constantly attack and mock christianity themselves. so it wouldn't be really fair if relegion/christianity will be banished from public. but what matters is, is that everyone has the free choice to choose what he/she wants to believe and to have the right to inform others about it.

[KopsTheTerminator]

[quote="Nicholas"]in my opinion it should remain like this and let people choose their own faith. however, christians should have the right to at least INFORM other people about their faith, because non-believers also constantly attack and mock christianity themselves. so it wouldn't be really fair if relegion/christianity will be banished from public. but what matters is, is that everyone has the free choice to choose what he/she wants to believe and to have the right to inform others about it.[/quote]

What do you mean by "inform other people"? And why only Christians? I've seen plenty of other religions get mocked, not to mention atheism itself. Why should Christians get special treatment?

[SlayerOfLight]

[quote="KopsTheTerminator"][quote="Nicholas"]in my opinion it should remain like this and let people choose their own faith. however, christians should have the right to at least INFORM other people about their faith, because non-believers also constantly attack and mock christianity themselves. so it wouldn't be really fair if relegion/christianity will be banished from public. but what matters is, is that everyone has the free choice to choose what he/she wants to believe and to have the right to inform others about it.[/quote]

What do you mean by "inform other people"? And why only Christians? I've seen plenty of other religions get mocked, not to mention atheism itself. Why should Christians get special treatment?[/quote]

what do YOU think I mean with informing other people? confess their faith to others of course, just as non-believers have the right to confess their lack of faith to believers. and I'm only using christianity here as an example because it's the biggest relegion. where did I say christians should get ''special treatment''?