It can be argued that some people who create personal websites do so as a means to engage in self-aggrandizement. I suppose such an argument can be equally applied to mine, although I tend to refer to it as a cathartic mechanism. My blog is designed to discuss atheism, critical thinking, science, secular humanism, and skepticism. I think what distinguishes my position from most of my atheistic brethren is the infusion of libertarian thought within my own stream of intellection. These two components, lack of belief and libertarianism, have assigned me a persona non grata status within my own sphere of professional relationships. Hence my need for the abreaction you see before you.
The specific tenet of libertarianism, that I feel is congruent to my view, is the non-aggression axiom. This principle, deontological in form, states that utilizing aggression is both unethical and inherently illegitimate. Aggression, as utilized within the preceding reference, is the initiation of physical force against another or another’s property. As libertarian writer David Boaz has stated;
“Libertarianism is the view that each person has the right to live his life in any way he chooses so long as he respects the equal rights of others.”
To extend further;
“Libertarians defend each person's right to life, liberty, and property--rights that people have naturally, before governments are created.”
If I were to add a proviso to the aforesaid statement it would be, “…before governments and religions are created.” It is necessary to have this addition since religion seeks to usurp individual sovereignty and replace it with sanctimonious ideology. Detractors might say that religion does not forcibly restrict an individual’s liberty and certainly respects and observes the equal rights of others. This of course, is a fallacy. One simply has to hear our elected officials refer to god in their speeches, or see its infection within the political process. Proposition 8 (in California) eliminated the rights of same-sex couples to marry; this, as you know, was heavily backed by the Mormon Church in Utah (a thuggery-based construct to be sure). Mormons (and other denominations) see their religious tenets as a necessary element of socio-political dynamics - after all, they think it’s what’s best for society.
As we all know theocratic movements are not isolated to Mormonism - other agencies such as Pastor Steven Andrew’s, USA Christian Ministries, illustrate just how important religion is to them within the political spectrum.
“Elect God Fearing Governments (2 Samuel 23:3, Exodus 18:21, Matthew 6:33)
"Obeying God as a nation brings God’s blessings to Americans. 2 Samuel 23:3 says, “‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 to “… seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [economy] shall be added to you.” Will you seek..”
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.” (Proverbs 29:2)
"Why should the 80 percent Christian majority pay for public schools if Jesus and our Founding Fathers' Christian faith isn't taught? Our Founding Fathers fought for God's unalienable rights of Christian life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom comes from obeying God,” Andrew says. “Let's get active to bring back the Holy Bible and Christian prayer to schools.”
"We cry out to You for the USA to be likeminded, united in You. Jesus said, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” We confess the sin of being divided as nation, and we repent." (Mark 3:24-25)
"We ask You to help the USA remember that the only division is the division You say, which is between the righteous and the wicked and the one who serves You and the one who doesn’t. We pray for “liberals” who are anti-God and anti-USA to be convicted of their sin, and to take up their cross and follow You."
Even the Catholic Church, with all of its antiquated sensibilities, acknowledges the church-state separation while tactfully making the qualification that politics and religion are mutually inclusive. Who else would guide the moral values of the citizenry? I find this to be vulgar and hypocritical; the Church’s history of pedophilia should disallow them from even uttering the words moral authority.
The Mormon Church, Pastor Andrew’s Christian Ministries, as well as the Catholic Church (there are more), are doing their best to utilize the machinations of the state to enforce their artificial prerogative – thereby abrogating individual sovereignty. How does one exercise exclusive authority over one’s mind and body if zealots continue to maintain that a god dictates all of mankind’s rights? Presupposing that god’s purview is absolute, and therefore invalidates secularism, is nothing more than tyranny cloaked in ignorance. Liberty is confined, and defined, by those that believe that they are terrestrial emissaries – working on behalf of a god they’ve never met in person, but nevertheless believe that they have intimate knowledge of his ‘will.’
In part two I will show how politicians express their desire to utilize religion to alter the fabric of this nation.
