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Bill: Theological Reform Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: Populist Party
Status[?]: defeated
Votes: This bill is a resolution. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: September 2271
Description[?]:
| The Populist Party is hereby submitting to the Senate the TRA, which will seek to secularize many laws we believe are hindering religious practices from many of our citizens. The FIRST LAW in review: "The government selectively screens which religions are permitted to send missionaries to the nation. Certain religions are approved and travel is unregulated." Why does the government have the say in religious practices? We understand security, but for the sake of the basic freedom of religion we would like to suggest this instead: "The government determines which missionaries are permitted to visit on a person by person basis." The SECOND LAW in review: "The State has the right to veto the appointment of any ministers of religion." The state should have no say in the religious practices of different sects. Government and religion should be seperate. Thus, we propose a change to: "The State does not intervene in the appointment of ministers of any religion whatsoever." The THIRD LAW in review: "There is an official state religion, but membership is completely voluntary." Government should not side with a religious belief, even if all others are allowed to still worship. So, we propose the law be changed to: "There is no government policy concerning a state religion." |
Proposals
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 06:45:16, August 17, 2006 CET | From | Populist Party | To | Debating the Theological Reform Act |
| Message | We now open this to debate. The Senate has the floor. |
| Date | 10:18:42, August 17, 2006 CET | From | Imperial Democratic Coalition | To | Debating the Theological Reform Act |
| Message | The First Issue: Well, we need the PP to explain to us why their proposed option is less restrictive and/or more secure than the current one. At the moment, we feel the current law (which had the IPS and VBSP's backing) provides the best combination. Why should representatives of religions which have passed scrutiny (i.e., do not pose a threat to national security) have to pass further tests individually. From the enactment: "Though the act deregulating the entry of foreign missionaries into Selucia was recently passed, the IPP feels strongly that it should be repealed. As has been said, there are quite a few religions, spiritualities & cults about that disrupt the function of everyday society, and have no place in our Empire. Even if we consider ourselves a nation of fairly liberal values, there are some extremes which we cannot allow. Certain faiths of the screwball-persuasion may include civil violence as a part of their doctrines, or rituals which disturb the lives of others. As only certain faiths could be considered dangerous, the option of vetting religions to determine suitability was agreed on." The Second Issue: Basically, no - this threatens our security. This allows the Imperator to stop the appointment of potentially violent or corrupt individuals. This ensures that, should a dangerous person somehow ascend to a position of high religious influence, the government may veto this, to protect the Empire's security. (Clearly, the Imperial Government has better vetting and background-checking information available than a religious body.) The 2 above laws allow us to prevent both a) dangerous religious organisations and b) dangerous religious individuals from causing harm to Selucia. The Third Issue: Well, you're given no real reasons as to why this should be changed. The majority of the population are members of the state religion, and, obviously, it is an integral part of our great culture. By making it the state religion, we are helping to safeguard the culture, morality and spirituality of our nation; and stop further unwanted advances being made by foreign faiths. Seeing as our present culture has enabled us to become one of the greatest countries on Terra; what reason would we have for changing that? (Note: This is not a relic of 'ancient' legislation - the state religion act was relatively recently passed, with the approval of all major parties.) |
| Date | 18:14:52, August 17, 2006 CET | From | VBS Party | To | Debating the Theological Reform Act |
| Message | ditto |
| Date | 06:01:35, August 18, 2006 CET | From | Populist Party | To | Debating the Theological Reform Act |
| Message | We are told that these are all in the interests of security. What faiths out there are "dangerous" to us that are recognized religions? We chose to have individuals precisely so we can IMPROVE security. It is not a faith that is dangerous, but the individuals who run the specific dangerous sects. Keep them from our culture and you will have no need to punish the followers of the more peaceful denominations. On the second issue, the Imperator has no place appointing "potentially violent or corrupt individuals" because religion should not be a government run issue in the first place. These brings us to the third point as well. When the government sides with one religion such things follow, and we show a bias towards a particular faith. We would have no need to fear a religious leader if we allowed faiths to be followed freely and without government intervention. We see this as nothing more than an attempt at theocracy with hints of nationalism. As you said yourself, "to safeguard the culture, morality and spirituality of our nation; and stop further unwanted advances being made by foreign faiths." Why should we fear foreign faiths? Why should we fear their influence, particularly if they share a common beleif? You say to defend a culture, but this culture of ours is made up of different denominations and beliefs that make our nation so grand. Then you say "our present culture has enabled us to become one of the greatest countries on Terra - it is clear now that by "culture" you mean your faith. Our nation is viewing other religions as some kind of threat, with no warrant or need. We are punishing the majority for the sake of a few wicked leaders, which should not be the case. The people of Selucia want a secularized government, that is clear in public opinion. Hence we are now putting this to vote. Remember, my friends, the people are watching. [OOC: I know this will crash and burn, but it's all for fun 8) ] |
| Date | 06:04:43, August 18, 2006 CET | From | Populist Party | To | Debating the Theological Reform Act |
| Message | OOC-Gosh durnit, I forgot to add the proposals. Abstain from this :/ Sorry |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||
| yes | Total Seats: 0 | |||
| no |
Total Seats: 80 | |||
| abstain | Total Seats: 525 |
| Random fact: It is not allowed to call more than 5 elections in 5 game years in a nation. The default sanction for a player persisting in the early election tactic will be a seat reset. |
| Random quote: "I'll see you in the Palace in Kivonia once we win this war... and I'm ecstatic to be the one to execute you. Sleep well." - Queen Annalise, former Telamonese monarch |