Is there even one truly significant difference..
...between "What a government is" and "what a religion is"
No
Side Score: 5
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Yes
Side Score: 7
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3
points
Governments take charge of a group of people defined primarily by boundaries. Religions take charge of a group of people defined primarily by association with principles. One organization can do both by becoming a theocracy. We wouldn't likely have a word to describe such things if governments and religions were synonymous. Side: Yes
This was the closest I ever got to finding an acceptable distinction between these. However.... Getting people to respect and defend territorial boundaries absolutely requires getting people to accept certain "philosophical first principles" as valid, does it not? One organization can do both by becoming a theocracy. What if an organization did both while maintaining a narrative that's regarded as entirely secular in nature. Would we not have essentially the same thing as a theocracy? Albeit described in different terms. I am not convinced that opression under "theocracy" is significantly different than opression under "secular government". We wouldn't likely have a word to describe such things if governments and religions were synonymous. I don't share you confidence on that, but I appreciate the time you take out of you day to type up challenges to my thinking. Side: No
1
point
Getting people to respect and defend territorial boundaries absolutely requires getting people to accept certain "philosophical first principles" as valid, does it not? Not necessarily. It typically has more to do with access to resources than anything else. Besides, I don't accept all philosophical first principles as being religious. What if an organization did both while maintaining a narrative that's regarded as entirely secular in nature. To be a true theocracy, I believe it would to be formally declared as such and be accepted by the general populace. Simulations of theocratic effects can and do exist though. I am not convinced that opression under "theocracy" is significantly different than opression under "secular government". Not by necessity, no. But the way many religions are expressed makes it more difficult to avoid oppression in theocratic societies. I don't share you confidence on that, but I appreciate the time you take out of you day to type up challenges to my thinking. :) Side: Yes
Governments set rules and laws that, if you break, you will be punished for in this world/ life. Religion sets rules and laws that, if you break, you will be punished in the next world/ life/ existence. Government deals with the here and know/ religion deals with the hereafter. Side: Yes
Religion sets rules and laws that, if you break, you will be punished in the next world/ life/ existence. that is not necessarily true. you could be punished in this life as well. or you could be punished after a few hundred lives. Governments set rules and laws that, if you break, you will be punished for in this world/ life. or sometimes it may let the criminal go free. in rare cases though. Side: No
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