A NEW PARTY IN DENMARK
"Christian Restoration".
(it doesn't dawn on everyone that the post is satire - an exhibition of a political law-religion - so I'm adding that here at the top)
Here are excerpts from their recently published party programme, intended to return the country to a proper society.
(remember to read to the end)
"WE COME TO RESTORE ORDER, MORALITY AND FAMILY VALUES.
To ensure the security of coming generations, we present the following non-negotiable reforms -
1. The family as the foundation of law. The man is the household's legal authority and decision point.
2. Mandatory modest dress for women in public spaces. The state's and faith's norms determine what is acceptable.
3. Religious courts parallel to civil law - personal status cases (marriage, inheritance, divorce) are not decided in district court but according to religious law.
4. Morality supervision and civil patrols are given mandate to enforce public decency and dress codes.
5. Ban on teaching and material that undermines 'traditional values'. School curriculum and culture are censored in the state's name.
6. Blasphemy and open criticism of faith authority are criminalized. Criticism of religious leaders is considered subversive activity.
7. Separation of the sexes in education and working life to protect "moral order".
8. Limited freedom of movement for women. Travel and stays outside the home require permission from male guardian.
9. Prioritization of religious institutions in the state budget. Public funds must support faith institutions rather than secular projects.
10. Public officials must swear declarations of loyalty to the state's religious interpretation to keep their jobs.
11. Media and cultural life under state control. Films, books and news must be approved according to religious standard.
12. Harsh sanctions for violations, including public punishments for "grosser" offences.
The aim is to remove institutions, freedom and control mechanisms, because order and purity demand it.
.....
If you - while reading - felt discomfort, anger or the urge to protest...
...congratulations.
It means you still have an intact sense of freedom.
The demands you just read feel suffocating, because they ARE suffocating. They are a direct attack on everything we associate with a free society.
Totalitarian systems always function this way -
Notice how it starts -
They promise order, security and moral restoration.
But those kinds of promises always have a price.
They begin by regulating the family.
They end by owning the state.
And they crush everything in between.
They speak of perhaps security - but build control.
They say "values" - but mean submission.
They call it order - but remove freedom.
There is not a single Danish person who deep down wishes to live like that. The Western human - We - would - without hesitation - oppose a political project that tried to implement these rules in Denmark.
…wouldn't we?
Or do our boundaries shift, if it's another religion demanding it?
Because think a bit here - there IS already another religion that - in its full implementation - demands this... and is working towards it.
.....
This text is written solely as an imagined extreme "Christian" party's programme - to slip past your normal filters - and thereby make the mechanics and patterns clear, obvious and recognizable to you.
In that way the text works as a mapping of institutional tools that any theocratic movement - hint hint - can - and consciously attempts to - use to transform religion into state power.
And yes. There is definitely a long series of countries with entirely concrete, modern examples of state measures that resemble these points almost 1:1 -
Forced requirements for women's dress and morality police - Religious courts that stand above civil law in personal status cases - Censorship of media and books - Bans on certain forms of education and women's participation in public space - Criminalization of criticism and blasphemy.
Several international reports document such practices and their consequences for civil rights and especially the freedom of women and sexual minorities.
.....
What is your point, Thomas?
My point is - that when we discuss political law-religions in public debate, the criticism is not directed at believing people.
It is directed at SYSTEMS AND POLICIES - because when religion is allowed to gain ground in a society's structure, legislation and power, it's civil rights that pay the price.
You can share this post if you believe that a free society must know and defend itself against the institutional mechanisms that can transform faith into coercion.
And simultaneously consider with yourself, why you think we should stand up for and support those who try to implement a single one of these demands through their political law-religion.
If you understand such a little hint…
.....
And that applies to all my texts, by the way.
I don't criticize people.
I criticize ideas that oppress people.
Because Truth, Freedom, Love and Human dignity are worth protecting against any ideology that tries to take power over them.
Wishing you a good week.
❤️🔥🪽
