We are working on a brand new version of the game! If you want to stay informed, read our blog and register for our mailing list.
Bill: Secular state
Details
Submitted by[?]: Telamon Social Democratic Party
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: May 2164
Description[?]:
| The current legislation does not follow, to a sufficient degree, the public opinion that sees the state as a secular organisation that should have nothing to do with religios organisation and should not take a stand on the matter. The current legislation simultaneously limits religios freedoms and allows the state to take sides in religious matters by eg. not limiting the use of religious clothing and wearing of religious symbols by public officials performing their duties. Same religious bias can be seen in demanding missionaries to register while allowing the founding of religious schools (as all private schools are banned, the state in effect can selectively find and fund religious schools) that are publicly funded. To both safeguard the rights of religious minorities, further strenghten our commitment to a secular state and remove current contradictions in the legislation the legislation needs to be reformed so as to allow full rights to all citizens despite their religious affiliations while not granting any religious group privileges over other religious or secular groups. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning the visitation of foreign missionaries.
Old value:: The government requires foreign missionaries to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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 Government policy towards evangelism and religious advertising.
Old value:: Religious organizations are not permitted to actively promote themselves or advertise, however evangelism is permitted by individuals.
Current: Religions are required to obtain government approval before promoting themselves or advertising in any manner.
Proposed: Religions are permitted to freely promote and advertise themselves.
Article 3
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 4
Proposal[?] to change The governments stance on religious schools.
Old value:: Any religion may set up a school, but they are strictly regulated.
Current: Religious schools are not allowed.
Proposed: Religious schools are not allowed.
Article 5
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy with respect to prayer in schools.
Old value:: Teacher-led prayers in schools are forbidden, except in religious schools.
Current: Teacher-led prayers in schools are forbidden.
Proposed: Teacher-led prayers in schools are forbidden.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 15:30:12, December 30, 2005 CET | From | Rationalist Party | To | Debating the Secular state |
| Message | Get rid of 1, 4 &5 and I would support you, as it stands this would greatly reduce people's rights regarding religious expression |
| Date | 15:58:33, December 30, 2005 CET | From | Telamon Social Democratic Party | To | Debating the Secular state |
| Message | As the legislation explicitly states that no private schools are allowed, the religious schools would have to be public (not in the british sense) schools and religious public schools do not sound a good idea in a country that has no national religion. Teacher-led prayed should be allowed in private religious schools, but as the legislation does not allow for private schools of any kind, including religious private schools (and as it can again be argued, public schools of a secular state should not be religious) we should ban teacher-led prayer as it can only be paid by tha taxpayer who pays for the upkeep of the school. Why would removing the necessity register in Ministry of Foreign Affairs reduce rights to religious expression? I would see that it increases them. |
| Date | 23:09:19, December 30, 2005 CET | From | United Labour Party of Telamon | To | Debating the Secular state |
| Message | get rid of 3,4, and 5. If you don't, it would limit religious freedom. |
subscribe to this discussion - unsubscribe
Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||||||
| yes | Total Seats: 0 | ||||||
| no |
Total Seats: 243 | ||||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 12 |
| Random fact: "Kubrk" is a Jelbic word that has the colloquial meaning "old man" or "geezer". |
| Random quote: "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." - Thomas Jefferson |