Faith and Force are inseperable

Submitted by Ralph C Whaley MD (United States), Dec 3, 2007 at 12:18

As I have posted before, those who take faith seriously ultimately appeal to force in propagating their faith. Since faith rejects, denies or ignores facts there is no way but force in dealing with those who disagree with the tenets of their faith whether it be the nature of their creation of god or the rules demanded of the followers of their particular faith. Persuasion requires facts and logic integrated to make a case. If that approach does not persuade the individuals who disagree they go their separate ways in peace.

There is only one political condition in which practioners of faith and rational individuals can live in harmony. A nation founded on the principle of individual rights. Such a nation implements this principle by banning the initiation of force by any individual or group of individuals. That prohibition is implemented by individuals making their government the sole authorized agent for the use of force. That authorization limits the government's use of force to retaliation against those who initiate force, to stop them and to punish those who initiated force. America is the only nation that was founded on this principle and is the safest place in the world to live as one who rejects faith as well as for those who embrace it.

The only rational way to help in this context is for individuals to learn these facts and promote the ideas that are required for the people living under tyranny to demand a government that protects their rights and does nothing else.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".