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Bill: GJA Secular State - 4.23.2552.AD
Details
Submitted by[?]: New Socialist Agenda
Status[?]: defeated
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: December 2552
Description[?]:
| "1) The government should not have a religion, even if it is voluntary. That is not the job of the government, and all it does is alienate and persecute non-believers. When mingled with by the state, religion merely becomes a tool of oppression, rather than a personal savior. 2) Public schools should not be praying. This alienates the children that are not religiously Jewish, and causes distraction and disunity. Children will have problems growing up tolerating other religions if other religions are forced upon them. We, the GJA, are sick of violence in the name of religion or against it, and wish to prevent another Roy-Stevens-Tragedy. 3) Ministers do not need to be paid for their services. When a minister is paid, that does three very bad things: (a) It makes money a motivating factor for becoming a minister. We want unselfish ministers, otherwise the synagogue will become a greedy cult like Scientology, which would defy all of Judaism's own teachings. (b) It is taking funds away from charity to pay for a minister that has (or should have) another job, when that minister's services should not be motivated by money in the first place. And (c) many "televangelists" become extremely rich - disgustingly rich - by getting people to donate, and then using their money for their own gain. Scientology was founded on the principle of making money. If we don't stop ministers from becoming filthy rich at the exploitation of their followers, more cults like Scientology will continue to appear. 4) Religious schools should not be allowed. (a) School is for teaching facts, not blind faith. School is about learning the worldly skills. Also, (b) religious schools allow for a parent to choose the religion of a child before the child has the thinking ability to choose for him or herself. This is wrong. Religion should be chosen consciously by each and every individual, not indoctrinated into it against their otherwise natural will. 5) Public officials should not wear religious symbols. This is exactly the same as the restrictions upon military personnel that they may not make any political statements or endorsements in uniform because the uniform represents the military. When a public official is performing official duties, that official is representing the government, and therefore should not represent the government with a religion. 6) Religious income should be taxed. In the eyes of a secular government that does not recognize religion, organized religion is just as much a corporation as any other money-making organization, and therefore should not get special treatment. 7) Religious organizations should not be able to advertise. In Jewish law, only governmental advertising is permitted. Therefore, corporations cannot advertise. In the eyes of a secular government, religions are corporations, and therefore cannot advertise. 8) The state should not intervene in the appointments of the ministers of religion. When the government gets involved in this, it only uses religion as a tool of oppression. 9) The state should not restrict the passage of missionaries just as it should not restrict the passage of salesmen. 10) A secular state should not require nationals to register religion - it is their own business." -Raamiah Galgenstrick, Chairman of the GJA >>Be it enacted by the Knesset of the Sixth Jewish Homeland of Beiteynu, the following shall become law: 1)(A)In Article I of the JHC, (3)(B), (3)(C), and (3)(D) shall be removed. (B)In Article II of the JHC in Section 1, (1)(A)(c) shall be removed. 2)(A)In Article XIX of the JHC, a new section, "Section 1: Government Policy" shall be added, and it shall read: "1)(A)The government shall have a strict separation of church and state, may not perform any religious action or endorse any religious establishment, and may not prohibit the practice of religion on private property not visible from any public property. (B)It shall recognize no religion, and restrict no religions, and all religions shall be viewed as corporations. (C)No public official shall reveal any religious symbols while performing official duties." 3)(A)In Article XIX of the JHC, a new section, "Section 2: Religion in Schools" shall be added, and it shall read: "1)(A)No school, public or private, shall have any prayers or religious rituals initiated by staff, (B) shall instruct religion in any way, (C) teach anything not based strictly upon logic and/or empirical evidence, (D) shall allow the advertisement of organizations at all involved with religion on any of its campuses, (E) shall allow organizations involved with religion to hold any activities on its campuses, or (F) allow anyone to proselytize any idea not based purely upon logic and/or empirical evidence on campus." 4)(A)In Article XIX of the JHC, a new section, "Section 3: Religious Organizations" shall be added, and it shall read: "1)(A)No minister of any religion shall be paid financially in any way for any of his or her religious services. (B)No religious organization shall discriminate based upon gender, political affiliation, or social status for the appointment of ministers. (C)No religion may actively advertise or promote itself, although evangelism shall be permitted by individuals through means not spread by any media. (D)All income of any religion shall be taxed the same as would a corporation, and all religions shall be viewed by the government as corporations. (E)The government shall not restrict the travel of any missionaries any more than it would restrict the travel of any salesperson, and (F) all missionaries and salespeople shall be equal before the law. (G)The government shall not involve itself further with any of the workings of any religious organization." 5)(A)It is the intention of this legislature that should any part of this law be declared unconstitutional, all other parts shall remain in full force and effect. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning the visitation of foreign missionaries.
Old value:: The government selectively screens which religions are permitted to send missionaries to the nation. Certain religions are approved and travel is unregulated.
Current: The government requires foreign missionaries to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Proposed: The government has no policy concerning the visitation of foreign missionaries.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The state's intervention in the appointment of ministers of religion.
Old value:: The state has the right to veto the appointment of any ministers of religion.
Current: The state does not intervene in the appointment of ministers of any religion whatsoever.
Proposed: The state does not intervene in the appointment of ministers of any religion whatsoever.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change Racial and religious registration of nationals.
Old value:: All nationals are required to register their religion.
Current: The government does not require nationals to register their race or religion.
Proposed: The government does not require nationals to register their race or religion.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change Government policy towards evangelism and religious advertising.
Old value:: Religions are permitted to freely promote and advertise themselves.
Current: Religions are required to obtain government approval before promoting themselves or advertising in any manner.
Proposed: Religious organizations are not permitted to actively promote themselves or advertise, however evangelism is permitted by individuals.
Article 5
Proposal[?] to change
Taxation of religious institutions.
Old value:: Recognized religions are not taxed.
Current: Recognized religions are not taxed.
Proposed: All religious income, despite the use, is taxed.
Article 6
Proposal[?] to change The state's policy concerning religious clothing.
Old value:: There are no laws regulating the wearing of religious clothing and the wearing of religious symbols.
Current: There are no laws regulating the wearing of religious clothing and the wearing of religious symbols.
Proposed: Public officials are not allowed to wear religious symbols while exercising their duties.
Article 7
Proposal[?] to change The governments stance on religious schools.
Old value:: Only recognised religions may set up religious schools, with no regulations.
Current: Religious schools are allowed, but are strictly regulated. Only recognised religions may set up religious schools.
Proposed: Religious schools are not allowed.
Article 8
Proposal[?] to change Remuneration of ministers of religion.
Old value:: The state does not intervene in the remuneration of ministers of religion.
Current: The salaries and pensions of ministers of religion shall be borne by the state and regulated by the law.
Proposed: Ministers of religion shall receive no remuneration whatsoever.
Article 9
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy with respect to prayer in schools.
Old value:: Teacher-led prayers in schools are encouraged.
Current: The government leaves this decision up to the schools themselves.
Proposed: Teacher-led prayers in schools are forbidden.
Article 10
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning religions.
Old value:: There is an official state religion, but membership is completely voluntary.
Current: There is an official state religion, but membership is completely voluntary.
Proposed: There is no government policy concerning a state religion.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 04:09:14, March 28, 2008 CET | From | Am Echad, Pays Libre | To | Debating the GJA Secular State - 4.23.2552.AD |
| Message | This is nothing but the charter of satan himself! |
| Date | 16:26:41, March 28, 2008 CET | From | New Socialist Agenda | To | Debating the GJA Secular State - 4.23.2552.AD |
| Message | (raises eyebrow partly in disgust, partly in confusion, and partly in contempt) "If you say so..." -Raamiah Galgenstrick, Chairman of the GJA |
| Date | 16:39:05, March 28, 2008 CET | From | New Socialist Agenda | To | Debating the GJA Secular State - 4.23.2552.AD |
| Message | "Perhaps one day the Knesset will be filled only with rational men. We look forward to such." -Raamiah Galgenstrick, Chairman of the GJA |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||
| yes |
Total Seats: 111 | ||
| no |
Total Seats: 180 | ||
| abstain | Total Seats: 65 |
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