Democracy – a funny word roughly translating as ‘the power of the common people’.  I often debate with my work colleague about democracy as he is very ‘pro’.  He is a great believer in freedom of speech and says that if we voted for democracy then it should be allowed.  His argument would be that Islamic extremist groups should be able to march through Wotton Bassett but that by the same token, they should be prepared for people to beat them up (although unfortunately whilst you might get away with freedom of speech you’d probably get arrested for beating someone up).  He is, as you can imagine, a socialist.  In the main, I agree with him, because in theory democracy works very nicely.  In practice, it doesn’t, depending upon how you define ‘works’.

If you are a part of the animal kingdom (some would say that we are), then democracy as a ruling, is perfect.  One animal goes where it pleases and gets mauled to death by another because both have made decisions exactly as they please and the repercussions are not enforced by anyone other than themselves.   However, as a structure, it is imperfect.  There is a hierarchy (known as the food chain), so every animal is not equal in terms of status, rights, freedom of passage etc.  It is similar with humans.  We can only be equal in the eyes of God, not in earthly terms.  There has to be hierarchy.  People cannot be treated the same (i.e. a 5 year-old child cannot be given the same responsibilities and decisions to make as a 40 year-old man, a paedophile should definitely not be allowed to hang around outside schools – the vulnerable must be protected).  The reason for this is that we are all at different stages.  Equal opportunities are alright up to a point, but where are the boundaries?

If people believe that there is no God, then scientifically, there is no basis for any kind of morality at all, as morality is not a scientific process.  Why would you have a sense of right or wrong, or good or bad, if you are purely a scientific matter?  It is not a requirement for a device to function (i.e. a plant, which has a complex system of functionality but no feelings – that we know of!)  Democratic theory fits with this notion.  Every man for their own, equality and fighting your corner.

If this is true, then why should we not break the law?  What tells us that to kill is wrong?  What makes us know that raping people is evil?

It is my belief that we live (or at least should live) in a theocracy.  Everything under God’s rule.  It offers the same freedom as democracy, as He has given us free will.  However, He gives us a sense of morality – what is right and what is wrong, where the boundaries lie etc and allows us to make decisions (which we often get wrong).  We are given a guide (the Bible) to help us make informed decisions about life.  We have voted ‘democracy’ because we are not allowed, it seems, to vote ‘theocracy’ despite being a supposedly Christian country.  Hmmm…. Thoughts in progress…..