One of the more interesting movies that I have seen in the last few years is "V for Vendetta."
Directed by James McTiegue, who worked behind the scenes on such moviesas "The Matrix" series and "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of theClones," the movie describes a post-apocalyptic society in which manyof the world's major governments (particularly the United States ofAmerica) have collapsed.
In this movie, the one bastion ofcivility left in the world is the United Kingdom, which is ruled by atheo-fascist dictatorship that enforces curfews, controls the media,and polices morality.
Interestingly, though, the oppressive ideology in the film is not Shari'a (Islamic Law) or Communism, but rather Christianity.
Inthe movie, a strict interpretation of Christianity is forced down thethroats of the masses, so much so, that the main character, V, resortsto terrorist tactics to bring down the system.
Watching themovie, I wondered what kind of people would want to force one religiousideology on such a religiously diverse society.
Then I startedpaying attention to buzz around the 2008 United States presidentialelection, and realized that there are many candidates who want to dojust that.
It is important to note before I continue that I am aChristian with moderate political beliefs, and that, while I lean tothe left on some things, I definitely lean to the right on others.While I follow the majority of Christian principals, as an American, Iembrace the rights of those who do not share my views to live andworship according to the manner that they see fit.
I can'thelp but notice that, in this election, there are individuals who wouldlike to see all Americans follow the same Christian view, even thoughthis country has always been a place for people of many religions, orof no religion at all.
In the last several years, there has beena rise in the emergence of "values" candidates, running campaigns basedon the religious dogma of their voter base, more so than what theyactually plan to do to make America a better place for everybody.
In2000, while running for office, President George W. Bush, when asked ina debate who the greatest philosopher and thinker in history was, saidJesus Christ. At the time, it seemed quite an odd thing to say, butnowadays, candidates have started to express much bolder visions of aChristian America.
Arizona senator and presidential candidate,John McCain, is currently embroiled in controversy over a remark thatAmerica is a country founded on Christian principles, and that hewouldn't vote for a candidate who wasn't a Christian. Anothercandidate, Fred Thompson, remains in the spotlight for his negativeviews on gay marriages.
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who recentlywithdrew from the presidential race, raised several eyebrows over hisinsistence on teaching Intelligent Design in schools, and his rigidviews on abortion.
Through these and others, one can see thatmany candidates have shifted from promoting pragmatic solutions toAmerica's problems, to promoting what makes Christians feel better. Thetrouble in that is that America is a country filled with Christians,Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, and Agnostics -- many of whom havedifferent sexual orientations and follow their faiths with varyinglevels of enthusiasm. America is now facing the same choice thatIslamic counties have been facing for centuries: to have a seculargovernment, or one based on strict religious principles. EmoryLaw professor and Islamic scholar, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im, arguesthat for democracy to exist, it must be secular and that non-seculargovernments actually cheapen religion by forcing people to follow itagainst their own free will.
An-Na'im says that governments canbe both religious and secular. For America to continue to be ademocracy, its leaders will need to create legislation that considersthe needs of all of its citizens, not just the ones who go to church.
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