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Bill: Lex Augustinia de Religione
Details
Submitted by[?]: Factio Republicana Socialistica
Status[?]: passed
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: July 4834
Description[?]:
| Augustinian Law on Religion Quirites, For the past few decades our Republic has found itself gripped by religious conflict and tensions and even sectarian violence. Instead of becoming allies in our joint struggle against Hosian theocracy and fanaticism, we have turned against each other and weakened our cause. If we are disunited we risk falling victim to Hosian restoration. In order to prevent such an outcome, we hereby propose a compromise religious settlement that will establish concord and restore civil peace and tranquility. For the past few years we have seen the rise of two seemingly contradictory stances on religion. Ours is that the indigenous polytheistic religion of our forefathers will never be safe from persecution and genocide unless it is restored as the dominant religion of the Republic. The stance of our esteemed colleagues in COSIRA is that all religion is dangerous and should be peacefully eradicated. These different stances have led our respective parties to adopt opposing policies and have caused significant strife and conflict. We believe that these differences are not as unbridgeable as they appear. For all our squabbles, Pagans and nonbelievers are natural allies. We both oppose monotheism and fanaticism and we both embrace science, reason, and nature. And most importantly, we both strongly oppose the return of Hosian domination in our Republic. We believe that there is thus more that unites us than separates us, and it is on this common ground that we propose to build on and establish a more permanent compromise. These proposals are inspired from both the Constitution of the Clergy (http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill.php?billid=629535) and the recent Bill on Religion introduced by the esteemed Aedile Auspex (http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill.php?billid=633524). With the passing of this bill the following articles are implemented: Article I. The Selucian Republic is a Pagan and Atheist state that guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom of religion, and the right not to practice any religion or belief to all those who reside on her territory. The Republic condemns all fanaticism and sectarianism stemming from monotheism and shall serve as a safe haven for its victims. The Republic shall promote and protect the rights and interests of Pagans and nonbelievers equally. Only those religions that respect human rights and dignity, as well as equality in all areas without any distinction between human beings, will receive recognition and protection under the law. Article II. All clergy in Selucia shall serve the Senate and People of Selucia and not their respective religious communities. All ministers of religion shall be appointed by the government of the relevant jurisdiction. As servants of the Republic, religious clergy shall receive a monthly stipend, and will not be permitted to receive any form of compensation for their services. All religious and monastic orders shall be disbanded and their members returned to productive lay life. Article III. All religious property in Selucia is the property of the state. Article IV. The Republic guarantees a secular education free of fanaticism, dogmatism, and superstition to all its citizens. All forms of public religious instruction and religious education are banned. Article V. The provisions of Article IV. of the Bellonian Law on Religion (http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill.php?billid=631309) are suspended. The government will grant individual military units the right to perform religious rites and rituals, at their discretion, with the provision that nobody may be obliged to participate in said rituals against their will and no citizen will be discriminated from serving in the Armed Forces. Minerva Augustina Tribune of the People |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning religions.
Old value:: There is no government policy concerning a state religion.
Current: There is no official state religion, but the government only allows recognized religions. 'Cults' are persecuted.
Proposed: There is no official state religion, but the government only allows recognized religions. 'Cults' are persecuted.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The state's intervention in the appointment of ministers of religion.
Old value:: The state appoints the head and ministers of the state religion, but does not intervene otherwise.
Current: The state has the right to veto the appointment of any ministers of religion.
Proposed: The state appoints all heads and other ministers of all religions.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change The governments stance on religious schools.
Old value:: Religious schools are allowed, but are strictly regulated. Only recognised religions may set up religious schools.
Current: Religious schools are not allowed.
Proposed: Religious schools are not allowed.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change Discrimination in the military on grounds of race/religion.
Old value:: Candidates must be of a certain race/religion to have any place in the military.
Current: Any adult citizen can serve in the military, discrimination for racial or religious reasons is prohibited.
Proposed: The government does not interfere with the military over who can serve in it.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 15:16:06, October 20, 2020 CET | From | Clara Aurora - COSIRA | To | Debating the Lex Augustinia de Religione |
| Message | Quirites, Overall, we believe that the MTS proposal on the religious issue could find the support of our party. However, before opting for it, we want to ask two fundamental questions: First, in relation to establishing a "state religion": it must be made clear in the legislation what they are, and that both irreligion and paganism will enjoy exactly the same protections, although the first of them is not a religion per se . The other option is to change that legislation and propose that "There is no official state religion, but the government only allows recognized religions. 'Cults' are persecuted", where the declaration of Hosianism and other religions as a cult is established in Selucia, based on the fact that once this legislation passes, only those religions that respect human rights and dignity, as well as equality in all areas without any distinction between human beings, may be considered religions. Second, in relation to article 4: we consider that the legislation should specifically shield that no one, for any reason, may be discriminated against from serving in the army if they consider it so, under the precepts other than the above. Sillenia Casta Onibia Spokesperson of COSIRA |
| Date | 16:08:21, October 20, 2020 CET | From | Factio Republicana Socialistica | To | Debating the Lex Augustinia de Religione |
| Message | Quirites, We thank the Honorable Spokesperson Onibia for her valuable input and we have amended this bill in light of her suggestions. Minerva Augustina Tribune of the People |
| Date | 01:44:30, October 21, 2020 CET | From | Nova Partia Libertati Seluciae (NPLS) | To | Debating the Lex Augustinia de Religione |
| Message | The NPLS objects strongly. This proposal robs religions of the right to manage their own affairs. Our party has opposed a state religion in the past and will do so again, but we have no quarrel with the right of any and every citizen to believe whatever and however they choose, which this law takes away. Also, a quick side note: If "Pagans and nonbelievers are natural allies" as our esteemed associates say, then why the persistent attempts in the past by your party to ban atheism? |
| Date | 10:16:31, October 21, 2020 CET | From | Factio Republicana Socialistica | To | Debating the Lex Augustinia de Religione |
| Message | I believe a confusion has emerged where many of our colleagues fail to distinguish between irreligion and atheism, two related but distinct concepts. Irreligion is the lack of membership in a religion, while atheism is lack of belief in any Gods; not all irreligious are atheist and not all atheists are irreligious. Agnostics, deists, naturalistic pantheists, and the spiritual but not religion all tend to be irreligious, while you can theoretically find atheists in any religious community. I myself regard the Gods as cultural symbols, psychological archetypes, and personifications of natural phenomena. Therefore, since I don't consider the Gods to be "real" - though I respect those that do, I am technically an atheist. But I am not irreligious, as I participate in the rites and rituals of Religio Seluciana. Our party's previous policy was not directed against atheism, but against irreligion. At the time we were seeking allies for our cause, and we, wrongly in my opinion, forged a temporary alliance of convenience with Hosians. It was an unfortunate decision and I am glad our party changed course. Our current policy is that a more stable and permanent alliance can be established with the nonbelieving population of Selucia. We share common values and common interests, and above all a common enemy, and as such I am confident we can successfully collaborate for the betterment of the Republic. Minerva Augustina Tribune of the People |
| Date | 12:03:00, October 21, 2020 CET | From | Clara Aurora - COSIRA | To | Debating the Lex Augustinia de Religione |
| Message | Quirites, While COSIRA will support this proposal, we want to make clear that no citizen shall take justice by their own hands. Attacks on any individual of our nation for belonging to any religion will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and it will be the courts that determine the legality or not of acts based on this law. |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||
| yes | Total Seats: 557 | ||
| no | Total Seats: 193 | ||
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
| Random fact: The people in your nation don't like inactive parties. When you often abstain from voting for a bill, they will dislike your party and your visibility to the electorate will decrease significantly. Low visibility will means you are likely to lose seats. So keep in mind: voting Yes or No is always better than Abstaining. |
| Random quote: “Human rights means doing whatever the fuck you want” - Benji Benandez, former Dranian politician |