Believers: pariahs in our society

This contribution appeared as Vrije Tribune on Doorbraak.be

Since the attacks in France, many articles and columns have been published about religion. The majority of these opinion pieces are written by people who are not religious themselves. These are usually pieces that view religion as negative. Maybe it's time for a believer to speak out.

To avoid any misunderstandings: I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – also better known by our nickname Mormons. I haven't always been that way. It was only three years ago that I chose to live this way.

Napoleon brought us laicism. An excellent principle that I support. The separation of church and state is one of the best things that could happen to both institutions. It may sound strange, but Christ himself was in favor of such separation. “Render to the emperor what is Caesar's and to God what belongs to God”, I cannot think of a clearer separation between church and state.

The Enlightenment in the 18th century was the beginning of a great wave of secularization. That tidal wave rolled so far onto the beach today that it washed away a lot. Today, religion is something that has been completely relegated to private territory. Everything religious had to disappear from the public stage.

I can understand that. The entanglement between religion, state and individual was so intense that the counter-movement strongly swung the pendulum in the other direction. But I advocate finally allowing the pendulum to return a little more to its resting position.

Currently, religion has been pushed so far from the public stage that the slightest public display of it triggers allergic reactions. When there was a social debate last year about the introduction of euthanasia for minors, as a Christian I argued against this new law based on my conscience and my religious beliefs. Every time I stated my reasons, it was enough to exclude me from the debate in advance. Religion could not be used as an argument – ​​the religious conscience was excluded in advance.

However, religion certainly deserves a place in our society. Not back to the good old days. Those days weren't very good in that regard. I want to give religion the place it deserves, without touching the Enlightenment and the separation of church and state. I want to claim a place that is respected, that has a right to exist and that is considered as normal as atheism or agnosticism.

There is nothing wrong with people who live their lives according to a faith that is important to them. There doesn't have to be anything scary about that. Everyone's opinion is shaped by his or her beliefs. For some of us, that belief is built on faith and religion. Does that make that belief inferior? Is a religious opinion inferior?

Our democracy is built on the fact that all votes count. Then we must also listen to all voices and not ignore a population group or its opinion, provided that these voices respect the rules of democracy. And that's where the problem comes in. Due to the terrorism that the perpetrators themselves link to Islam, it seems as if religion always goes against the rules of our Western society.

I can testify that this does not have to be the case. Look at the United States. There is greater respect for religion there than here in Western Europe. No one is surprised that presidents end their speeches with “May God bless our country”. Their money notes even say “In God we trust”. Does anyone think that America is not governed democratically?

I see another proof in my church. Our articles of faith – virtually the constitution of our religion – expressly state two remarkable things about this. The eleventh article states “We claim the right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and grant to all men the same right: let them worship how, where, or what they please.” In short, we ask for respect for our faith, but we also give the same respect to others. Everyone believes or not, as he pleases. Free choice, an important principle in a democratic state.

The twelfth article states, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, by obeying, respecting, and upholding the law.” Religion should not replace the state. Mormons must respect the laws of the country where they live.

So there is no need to fear: religion can deal with our society in a very mature way. So it is time that society learns to deal with religion. Feel free to let a believer express his opinion publicly. Let him live according to the commandments of God. As long as this is done with respect for our laws and values, this is not a problem.

I understand that when individuals crusader-like camouflage violence with religious fallacies, we become afraid of religion. Unknown is unloved and unknown causes fear. Yet another reason to take religion out of the dark corners and simply give it a place in the light of day. Then it certainly cannot grow unnoticed.

It is therefore not necessary for Bart De Wever to say in an interview that anyone who thinks they will be happier if they live according to the commandments of God or Allah will be better off in Iran or Saudi Arabia. I try to live according to God's commandments, but I am perfectly happy here. If I already have a different opinion on certain matters, then I will, just like last year, write to representatives in a democratic manner with arguments to persuade them to support or not support a particular bill.

As Kristien Hemmerechts notes that religion cannot be eradicated, first and foremost it shows as if it were a command to do so. She states that people primarily seek connection and religion is merely a medium to express that connection.

Am I wrong to believe that this desire for connection exists because, before we were born on this earth, we were all connected as brothers and sisters in a premortal existence? So I may have a minority opinion, but should it really be eradicated? As a Mormon, I shudder at those words, because in our history we have seen an American governor pass a law to exterminate all Mormons.

Give religion the respect it deserves, on the condition that that religion reciprocates the same respect. There is no need to put us in a corner. Believers do not deserve to be the pariahs of our Western society. We believe (!!) that we can live hand in hand, believers and others together. That is my prayer.