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Bill: Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221
Details
Submitted by[?]: Centre Démocratique
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: December 2222
Description[?]:
| To acknowledge and celebrate the important religious tradition of the Free Republic of Jelbania. |
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 government policy concerning a state religion.
Proposed: There is an official state religion, but membership is completely voluntary.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 03:38:37, May 02, 2006 CET |
From |  Centre Démocratique | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | 2221 marks an important year for the Citizens Party. Our leadership, after years of consideration, has decided to support an official state religion, albeit one that is voluntary. Our party has always supported the rural, agrarian traditions of Jelbania. It is time now to honor the Christian faith that the vast majority of our people maintain a close relationship with.
For those parties who have been around for some time know that Jelbania is an extremely religious country. This policy would be wholeheartedly welcomed by the Jelbanian people. I will look into commissiong a poll on this during our debate.
I hope this initiates some good discussion. We do not support theocracy or government dominated by religion. We believe in freedom of religion. We just want to honor our history and culture with this gesture. |
| Date | 04:03:08, May 02, 2006 CET |
From | Green Manalishi Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | The GMP has made it clear in its manifesto that it supports a fully secular society. It does therefore not believe that promoting one religion over any other is an aid towards social harmony and that it is neglectful of our minorities. Jelbania is a fluid and progressive country built on equality, and the GMP does not seek to hinder this natural balance by bowing to populist policy or vague trends. |
| Date | 19:31:25, May 02, 2006 CET |
From | Free Conservative Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | This one is a little wierd for me. I'll think about it.
And, GMP, secularism is a religion all in itself. Also, "GMP does not seek to hinder this natural balance by bowing to populist policy..." So, why then do you so believe in centralization? |
| Date | 19:54:23, May 02, 2006 CET |
From | Green Manalishi Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | The GMP fully rejects the notion that "secularism is a a religion all in itself" as conservative rhetoric, and feels that there is a strong latent motive in the CP's sly attempt at merging the two.
The GMP does not want to embroil itself in semantics, but would like to make clear that it will not support policies that neglect the vision of the party in favour of cheap votes. The party believes that a centralised system is the logical way to achieve equality, and emancipate individuals through a mutual relationship with the state.
|
| Date | 00:36:26, May 03, 2006 CET |
From | Free Conservative Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | "The GMP fully rejects the notion that "secularism is a a religion all in itself" as conservative rhetoric, and feels that there is a strong latent motive in the CP's sly attempt at merging the two.
The GMP does not want to embroil itself in semantics, but would like to make clear that it will not support policies that neglect the vision of the party in favour of cheap votes. The party believes that a centralised system is the logical way to achieve equality, and emancipate individuals through a mutual relationship with the state.
"
C's P, I would like to say that now I know how TRULY immature I sounded when I accused you of trying to get votes with your Adoption Act. I sincerly apoligize. |
| Date | 00:39:03, May 03, 2006 CET |
From | Free Conservative Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | Back to the bill. I do not like this because this means teaching a certain religion to kids whose' parents may not want it. That is why I wanted to privatize schools while still keeping them free. People get choice. |
| Date | 02:52:34, May 03, 2006 CET |
From | Jelbék Zemojad Lofrkad Prta | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | To the Conservative Party: There is no such thing as 'choice' in education. A parent is always free to 'choose' a school a hundred miles from where they live, but this is just stupid, isn't it? Also there is a separate policy for religion in schools, we believe.
The Democratic Labour Party was unaware of overwhelming support amongst Jelbanian's for Christianity to become the state religion. Also, what advantage would this gain to the majority of the populace, and what effect will it have on minorities? We remain unconvinced. |
| Date | 03:16:12, May 03, 2006 CET |
From | Centre Démocratique | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | To the Conservative's accusation that we are trying to gain votes with this measure:
We are being very open about our party's decision to break away from a long-standing policy position. If you want to think this is political opportunism, then you have the right to think that. However, ideally all parties would support this effort and Citizens Party would not benefit from our stance in this matter. In that case, all parties' stances on religion would be relatively similar.
We are proposing a state religion that is voluntary. If this bill become law, no one will be forced to do anything against their will. I do not understand the Conservatives' accusation that this bill would be "teaching a certain religion to kids whose' parents may not want it." This bill does not involve educational policy.
This bill is just an attempt to recognize our country's rich religious heritage.
We appreciate the open and honest debate. We expected this to be a contentious issue. |
| Date | 04:29:58, May 03, 2006 CET |
From | Free Conservative Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | "The GMP refrain from getting involved in petty in-fighting and name-calling, and stands by the statements it has already made"
"..CP's praying-on-street-corners, self-appointed-moral-guardian rhetoric..."
hmmmmmm |
| Date | 01:36:40, May 04, 2006 CET |
From | Green Manalishi Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | The GMP joins the DLP in questioning the existence of "overwhelming support amonst Jelbanians for Christianity". We also stress our concerns towards the effects on other religious or non-religious communities if we are seen to endorse Christianity in particular. The varied legislation on religion at present highlights the fact that we, as a government, do not interfere with them at all and therefore offer the citizens complete freedom of choice. Whilst we accept that the proposal is voluntary, we question the need for it from the perspective of consistency with the other complete liberties we offer on the issue. We would also query the logic of the explanation that the bill is "just an attempt to recognise our country's rich religious heritage" because surely variety is the spice of life? and Jelbania is fortunate enough to be the home of various religious and non-religious communities, not just Christianity. |
| Date | 02:41:34, May 04, 2006 CET |
From | Centre Démocratique | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | If one takes a look at the Nation Overview page, one can see that the majority of the Jelbanian people are "fanatics" about religion. They view this as moderately important in their political outlook. Political parties in the past here in Jelbania, among them the BBP, have been members of the Christian League. Citizens Party is also a member of that organization. All we are seeking to do with this bill is to recognize our country's rich religious heritage.
We also add that we do not speak for the BBP. We do not know their stance on this bill and simply use them as an example. |
| Date | 02:55:50, May 04, 2006 CET |
From | Jelbék Zemojad Lofrkad Prta | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | Merely because former political parties of the Free Republic considered themselves 'Christian' gives no indication of the overwhelminging support for christianity by Jelbanians implied by this bill.
The DLP will most likely abstain. |
| Date | 02:56:30, May 04, 2006 CET |
From | Green Manalishi Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | The GMP feels that the Citizens Party's point that the "majority of the Jelbanian people are fanatics" is specious. If we regard the statistics closely then we can see that the "majority" has only a negligably slight leaning. Whilst this in itself is little over half of the population and is therefore not enough to make a definitive official religion, the figure also doesn't tell us what religious persuasions the slight majority is made up of. |
| Date | 03:05:09, May 04, 2006 CET |
From | Green Manalishi Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | We also support the latest affirmation by the DLP and would like to clarify our own last point in the interests that they may again consider the damage this bill could do to our minority communities and therefore our social harmony in general.
If just over half the population are shown to be religious then very nearly half also lean towards the secular side. Also the slight majority that is religious, is not defined into specific areas of belief, the demographic that makes up the majority is only placed under the generic term of "fanatic". Therefore it is almost certain (unless 99% of this majority is Christian) that Christians are not a majority in themselves in Jelbania. Thus, making Christianity the officially endorsed religion is illogical. |
| Date | 04:36:07, May 04, 2006 CET |
From | Green Manalishi Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | It is hugely regrettable that several of our parties still seem prepared to reject the majority sympathies of the electorate that voted them in, in favour of their own personal preferences outside of government. |
| Date | 23:13:51, May 04, 2006 CET |
From | Green Manalishi Party | To | Debating the Jelbanian Heritage Act 2221 | | Message | The FP can't have the best of both worlds. If it "does not matter to the COMPUTER" then why do they object to what we call it? Can the FP give a straight answer as to why we shouldn't call it atheism? |
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| Vote |
Seats |
| yes | Total Seats: 479 |
| no | Total Seats: 146 |
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
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