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Single Idea 20620

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 2. Religion in Society ]

Full Idea

It is unfair to exclude religious arguments from the public square because they are not accepted by everyone, unless other views that are not accepted by everyone are also excluded.

Gist of Idea

If minority views are accepted in debate, then religious views must be accepted

Source

Tuckness,A/Wolf,C (This is Political Philosophy [2017], 9 'fairly')

Book Ref

Tuckness,A / Wolf,C: 'This is Political Philosophy' [Wiley Blackwell 2017], p.233


A Reaction

Raises the obvious problems of a huge group in the grips of a fairly crazy view, and a tiny group (e.g. specialist scientists) in possession of a correct view. You can't just assess it on the size of the group. You can be wrong but reasonable.


The 22 ideas with the same theme [relative roles of a government and a people's religion]:

The whole state should pay for the worship of the gods [Aristotle]
All legislators invoke God in support of extraordinary laws, because their justification is not obvious [Machiavelli]
Rulers should preserve the foundations of religion, to ensure good behaviour and unity [Machiavelli]
Machiavelli emancipated politics from religion [Machiavelli, by Watson]
Only when working people are poor do they remain obedient to God [Calvin, by Weber]
If fear of unknown powers is legal it is religion, if it is illegal it is superstition [Hobbes]
State and religious law can clash, so the state must make decisions about religion [Spinoza]
The clergy are essential to a monarchy, but dangerous in a republic [Montesquieu]
Religion has the most influence in despotic states, and reinforces veneration for the ruler [Montesquieu]
French slavery was accepted because it was the best method of religious conversion [Montesquieu]
Religion can support the state when the law fails to do so [Montesquieu]
By separating theological and political systems, Jesus caused divisions in the state [Rousseau]
Civil religion needs one supreme god, an afterlife, justice, and the sanctity of the social contract [Rousseau]
All religions should be tolerated, if they tolerate each other, and support citizenship [Rousseau]
Every society has a religion as its base [Rousseau]
The church has a political role, by offering a supreme power over people [Kant]
The ideal is to impose a religion by force, and then live in doubt about its beliefs [Cioran]
For Enlightenment philosophers, God was no longer involved in politics [Badiou]
Any establishment belief system is incompatible with full respect for all citizens [Nussbaum]
The case for religious liberty depends on the religion contributing to a morally good life [Sandel]
Religious toleration has been institutionalised by the separation of church and state [Shorten]
If minority views are accepted in debate, then religious views must be accepted [Tuckness/Wolf]