Re: Is religion antithetical to democracy [formerly: Are Islam and Democracy Incompatible?]

Kate wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 16:58:33 -0600, Alan Wostenberg
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>>Let's agree no religion should win coverts by the sword. It ought to be
>>voluntary.
>
> Even more so.
>
> It is self defeating (and abusive) to try to win converts by any
> coercive method, even the slightest. Your converts haven't converted
> if they are not wholely and with complete knowledge in agreement with
> the entire agenda of the religion in question.

There is much truth in that, particularly for adult converts{1}, but 
what of infants? If a citizen is fully American by birth even without 
"complete knowledge and agreement of the American agenda", why can't 
that same infant be a Catholic by baptism?




{1} That's why your local parish priest ordinarilly won't *let* adults 
convert until you've completed a year of education and discernment in 
RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation).


-- Alan Wostenberg
"and he healed them" http://www.TheLightOfHeaven.com