Why religion, government must be kept separate
The State should desist from interfering with faith and religious practices except when there is violation of basic rights. In some circumstances, the government can impose restrictions on a religious belief or practice, as long as the law applies to all equally and does not target a specific religion or group.
However, it is not just about government leaving religion alone. Religion should leave the government alone. In a diverse society in which some people believe in one God, others in many gods, and some in no God at all, it is important that all these groups enjoy equal opportunity to influence ethical aspects of government and public life.
The Constitution makes it clear where the government is duty bound to intervene in religious matters. However, it has no role in religion except on issues that are morally repugnant or go against the law.
Ideally, good governments do not take sides in religious matters. They allow all religions to co-exist. Religion and government travel different but parallel tracks. In a sense, they are like a couple that sometimes experience a hard time living together but who find they simply cannot live apart. They both need their independence in order to flourish. They travel parallel tracks, and are most successful and most effective when they each keep to their respective spheres.
Governments play an essential role in protecting and maintaining religious freedoms and in fostering the role of religious organisations in society. Most governments recognise at least some degree of religious freedom and ensure their citizens the right to worship and practice their religion according to the dictates of their own conscience. That is as it should be.
However, when a government imposes or favours one religion, this can stifle or roll back religious freedoms. This is a path that any well-meaning government should avoid.
Societies depend in large part on religion to establish moral order. Government can never build enough jails to house all the criminals produced by a society lacking in morality. An observance of moral order and law is better encouraged by religious observances rather than by legislative decree or police force.
It is impossible for government to control the attitudes, desires and hopes that spring from the human heart. However, the government must regulate people’s actions so that these attitudes, desires and hopes do not become criminal actions.
That is why the government enforces the law and religion teaches and encourages adherence to the law. Civility in society is achieved when majority of people do what is moral, right and legal because they believe they should, not just because they fell compelled by law.
A government oversees the conduct of its citizens. It tries to get them to behave in a particular way that guarantees order and rule of law. Religion, on the other hand, tries to get them to desire to behave in a decent and moral way. As such, the two are mutually complimentary. None, therefore, should venture into the territory of the other.
To that end, then, good government protects all religion and fosters religious freedom, on the one hand. On the other, religion encourages good citizenship and adherence to the law. Good government should, therefore, not favour one religion over another or over others. That separation of State and religion should be maintained.
All citizens must be free to believe and practice according to the dictates of their conscience and beliefs. By the same token, good religion should neither endorse nor oppose any political party. However, religious leaders can hold a government to account. Similarly, all religions should be encouraged to allow their adherents to participate in political processes.
—The writer is a student at Daystar University and an intern at People Daily
