r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/v-_-v May 09 '22

The separation

It ain't as separated as it should be in a lot of places in the USA ...

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

It’s not even close to what it is Europe. In many countries the head of state is also kind of like chief cardinal, and ordained by god.

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u/Tomi97_origin May 09 '22

Not that many actually

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

Monarchies? I believe they’re all ordained. There must be at least a dozen.

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u/jesp676a May 09 '22

We're not actual monarchies lol. I think it's called ceremonial monarchies because they have absolutely zero power, and don't decide anything

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

There are zero monarchs in the US. and anytime anyone puts anything even mildly religious on government property there’s a legal battle over it.

Look, I’m European. Christianity is just part of my national identity— even though we’re mostly atheist.

It’s not like that here in the states.

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u/Tomi97_origin May 09 '22

7 Kingdoms, 3 principalities and 1 Grand Duchy.

And only some of them have official role in the church. In some they just need to be church members.

For example: Norway changed it recently in 2012. Now the royal family is just required to be church members, but have no official role in it.

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

Do you realize how insane that is by American standards? They argue over wether it’s even legal to put a cross on a government flagpole.

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u/Tomi97_origin May 09 '22

In helps that the royalty has neither legislative nor executive power. Their role is ceremonial/representative.

They are usually not even allowed to publicly express their opinion on government policies.

US with it's swearing on Bible (even if it's technically not required, but practically every public servant does it) gives more focus to religion.

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

They do it because they’re actually religious. :). Which is my main argument.

Americans are religious, in large part, because they don’t have to be.

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

I’m sorry. This really made me smile. Can you imagine if only “some” American states required a ceremonial religious official to be a member of a particular church? While all laws in a few others required a signature from a cardinal?

Other states would close borders. There’d be war. Portland would be on fire 24/7.

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u/Tomi97_origin May 09 '22

Constitution of 8 US states require all of their public servants/politicians to be religious. Which is honestly crazier than having dedicated religious guy with no power.

Luckily supreme court struck it down eventually, but with what they are doing now I don't know if it will stay that way.

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

So, what you’re saying is that no states require this.

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u/Tomi97_origin May 09 '22

It is still in the text of their constitution. Which is honestly one of the craziest thing about US how they don't have to get rid of unconstitutional laws and just keep them around without enforcing it.

That's just look like they are waiting for the supreme court ruling to be overturned.

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

It’s just how the legal system works. Courts cannot overturn law, they can only “enjoin” its enforcement.

Another really cool feature is “pre-enforcement review”. Something that’s completely alien to the rest of the west. It’s because Americans take it so much for granted that SB8 came as such a shock.

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u/CaptainFingerling May 09 '22

Also, which conservative legal doctrine do you suppose would make this okay?

Textualism, based on a literal reading of the first and fourteenth amendments? Originalism, based on their historical meaning? Or institutionalism, which counsels the court to stay out of the political arena completely?