The more I observe the changing political scene in western democracies, the more I become certain that democracy will eventually be the victim of its own doing.
What makes democracy better than the other forms of government is its philosophy of good governance based on the will of the majority. And the will of the majority has always been guided by such ideals as freedom and tolerance. But it is the unchecked insistence on freedom and the need to respect one's religious freedom and that of his conscience that is seriously threatening the very existence of democracy.
I have always had my fears about majority rule. Any political system that makes it possible for the majority to impose its will on the minority only paves the way for its own fall. The concept of freedom of worship is increasingly becoming incompatible with its twin principle of tolerance in the face of a growing number of religious conservatives.
The growth of religious conservatism in western politics is changing the face of democracy in these countries. It is inconceivable that religious conservatives would deny others the same benefits that made it possible for them to thrive as a formidable political force in the first place.
The intense debate on gay rights and abortion largely on the basis of "social values" is one that has been perpetrated by the religious right. The religious right often engages in double standards; whenever they are in the minority, they vociferously demand their first amendment rights, but when they are the majority, they make it practically impossible for the minority to enjoy the same constitutional rights. As religious organizations, they wouldn't like to be discriminated against, but they discriminate against others who deserve equal protection under the law.
In Utah for instance, where the religious conservatives are the overwhelming majority, one can hardly imagine a state free from religious interference because the line between god and state is blurred. Some residents in the state are forced to accept certain practices which may be offensive to their respective faiths. For example, I hear it is mandatory that prayers be offered at the commencement of public meetings at some city halls .
Here, in the United States, the coalition of the Religious Right with the Republican party has consolidated the former's position as the strongest critic of secularism. This coalition is thus very influential, and the Republican party is, unfortunately, at its beck and call.
Democracy has over the years emphasized "freedom" above all else. But sadly religious fundamentalists are using the same freedom to deny others their constitutional rights. That's what happens when people vote, not for tolerance and peaceful coexistence, but in accordance with their religious consciences. The result of this is bigotry - the very thing democracy seeks to prevent.
What makes democracy better than the other forms of government is its philosophy of good governance based on the will of the majority. And the will of the majority has always been guided by such ideals as freedom and tolerance. But it is the unchecked insistence on freedom and the need to respect one's religious freedom and that of his conscience that is seriously threatening the very existence of democracy.
I have always had my fears about majority rule. Any political system that makes it possible for the majority to impose its will on the minority only paves the way for its own fall. The concept of freedom of worship is increasingly becoming incompatible with its twin principle of tolerance in the face of a growing number of religious conservatives.
The growth of religious conservatism in western politics is changing the face of democracy in these countries. It is inconceivable that religious conservatives would deny others the same benefits that made it possible for them to thrive as a formidable political force in the first place.
The intense debate on gay rights and abortion largely on the basis of "social values" is one that has been perpetrated by the religious right. The religious right often engages in double standards; whenever they are in the minority, they vociferously demand their first amendment rights, but when they are the majority, they make it practically impossible for the minority to enjoy the same constitutional rights. As religious organizations, they wouldn't like to be discriminated against, but they discriminate against others who deserve equal protection under the law.
In Utah for instance, where the religious conservatives are the overwhelming majority, one can hardly imagine a state free from religious interference because the line between god and state is blurred. Some residents in the state are forced to accept certain practices which may be offensive to their respective faiths. For example, I hear it is mandatory that prayers be offered at the commencement of public meetings at some city halls .
Here, in the United States, the coalition of the Religious Right with the Republican party has consolidated the former's position as the strongest critic of secularism. This coalition is thus very influential, and the Republican party is, unfortunately, at its beck and call.
Democracy has over the years emphasized "freedom" above all else. But sadly religious fundamentalists are using the same freedom to deny others their constitutional rights. That's what happens when people vote, not for tolerance and peaceful coexistence, but in accordance with their religious consciences. The result of this is bigotry - the very thing democracy seeks to prevent.
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