A HUMANIST POSITION ON CHURCH STATE SEPARATION
Humanists support the concept of a democratic secular state, with complete separation of religion and government. Consistent with this, humanists oppose theocracy in all of its forms and support (http://www.americanhumanist.org/press/IslamStatement.php):
· The freedom to think and believe or not believe, and to profess or critique, resisting efforts to impose one’s religious beliefs on others through coercive and punitive measures
· The choice to observe or not to observe religious practices, to the degree that such practices do not harm others or interfere with their rights
· Democratic principles, to the degree that such choices do not permit the state to engage in religious indoctrination or similar tyrannies of the majority
· Modern human rights, not tolerating violations of those basic rights whether or not they are bolstered by religious law or custom.
To read more on this subject go to:
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists
Filed under: Discussion, Humanist Positions, humanism