TicklingDuo
3rd Level Yellow Feather
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just an interesting note:
the Uniting Church of Victoria and Tasmania are planning mass civil disobedience by refusing to pay any 'war taxes' that will be imposed by the government. The Queensland church is meeting in a couple of weeks and will decide then what to do about it.
What do you think about churches getting involved in political actions? Some Uniting Church members attended anti-vietnam rallies too, and were arrested.
Biggles
This was posted in the presidential support thread. So, I thought I'd let that one stay on topic and respond here.
I don't think that religion should dictate the course of politics...or politics that of religion. But, I DO feel that people who truly believe a certain way should be allowed to live those beliefs to the fullest. That includes lawful dissent about engaging in wars and paying taxes that support things they truly believe to be unjust.
Following my own faith would negate my paying taxes because our tax dollars go to MANY things that I believe to be inherantly wrong. But, since I'm unable to work, that really isn't much of an issue.
However...there IS a problem in doing this. If we say that people only have to go along if they agree, then people will claim to believe all sorts of things in order to avoid taxes, military service, etc. That could cause more harm than good.
I honestly believe that what we need, both as individuals and as a nation, is a spiritual awakening. I don't mean that as everyone coming to one set of beliefs. I mean it as each individual finding what they personally believe and truly living it...as long as it doesn't interfere with the rights of others. That was the original ideal upon which this country was founded. While things weren't perfect (because WE aren't perfect), they were a lot better than they are now.
A big part of our problem today is that people generally don't know what they believe. They have no direction or purpose. So they just wander through life, never being fulfilled or joyful. That's just sad.
Ann