Salam Sarhan: Why I'm starting a global campaign to remove religion from politics

[trotsky]

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/religious-extremism-islam-donald-trump-muslim-travel-ban-conflict-politics-international-ban-a8756351.html

It is an understatement to say that the political use of religion has had a corrosive influence throughout human history. It continues to ignite and sustain the most intractable global conflicts. Unfortunately most of the worst abuses of religion in politics today are carried out in the name of Islam, but the political use of any religion has led – and will always lead – to the same results.

The theocratic revolution in Iran, which is centred on exporting sectarian ideology, was a turning point: it has ignited, over four decades, the rise of dark forces across Middle East and beyond. The situation has only got worse since the destabilising of Iraq by the American-led invasion in 2003 and the subsequent uprisings in many countries in the region in 2011, which opened a Pandora’s hox, as any anarchy always does.

...There is now a need to move towards an international consensus to prevent any invocation of religion – from mainstream as well as extremist religious groups – to support national and political agendas. It is time for a campaign to create an international treaty to ban the political use of religion.

...Endorsement of the treaty by powerful countries would help to tip the balance in favour of more moderate, tolerant ideals. It would be a step towards bringing outlier states back to the majority world consensus, similar to events following the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in December 1948.

[MineralMan]

1. Best thing that could ever happen!

It won't of course, but that would be terrific! Government through reason rather than superstition. I like the idea.

[guillaumeb]

2. Recommended.

The US example, while not generally followed in practice, is a good one to emulate.

But would more moderation and tolerance necessarily follow?

[Igel]

3. Don't know.

But religion turned up a couple of times in US politics.

One group was firmly anti-abolitionist, and they carried the day. Battle Hymn of the Republic and all that. It was a counter to many Southern views about using the Bible to support slavery.

Prohibition's partly because of religion. Then again, a lot of WCTU women were also pushing for the franchise.

MLK wasn't "reverend" by accident; that was also a large influence of religion on American politics.

And the "Moral Majority" was a group basically pushed out of their political quietism by a legal ruling too far. Sadly, once such a ruling is in place and battle lines are drawn, it's harder to actually move the middle.

[guillaumeb]

4. Nice points.

And I agree. But I firmly believe that separation of church and state is essential to preserve liberties for everyone.

Otherwise, far too often we see a church/state confluence.