I’ve been browsing the links in my Atheist Blogroll on the right side of this page, and I’ve noticed numerous posts for the “Blog Against Theocracy” movement going on April 6-8. But Why? Why should we blog against theocracy?
I mean, I know the reasons why a theocracy is inherently bad. The oppression is blatantly obvious is some of the political rhetoric that gets thrown around by the Christians in this country that want the US to be a Christian theocracy. The oppression is blatantly obvious in current Muslim theocracies that treat women like second class citizens. The inherent authoritarianism is something everyone can agree on, and it is diametrically opposed, in every aspect, to the liberty and freedom that America was founded upon, and prides itself for having.
However, a blog against theocracies will only reach those who are already aware of, and understand these DNA-like codings in the bowels of theocratic nation states. Much like the televangelism that goes on here, it’s preaching to the choir. Those who really need to “get” it, won’t, because their particular religion tells them that what they are doing is a good thing as long as they do it in the name of their particular god. And there’s no concept of “too much of a good thing…”
It is the nature of exclusive religions like Christianity and Judaism and Islam to think that they are right, they have the Truth and have been shown the Truth by their god, and everyone else is just flat out wrong. So it doesn’t matter to Christians in this country that their ideal theocracy would share in the same political underpinnings and all out assault on civil liberties as the Muslim theocracies in Iran or Afghanistan (during the Taliban rule). It only matters that their god is right, and Allah is wrong. Those stupid Muslims are wrapped up in a false religion and that’s why their theocracies are so bad for freedom and liberty and human rights.
And it doesn’t matter that Muslims have the same exact hearsay and “evidence” and baseless claims for the righteousness of their god as the Christians have for theirs. One still thinks the other is worshiping false gods, practicing a false religion, and doomed to burn in hell for eternity. They don’t see the interchangeability of their own proclamations.
This kind of thought process will not be swayed by pointing out the childlike, oppressive, and anti-freedom nature of theocratic nations. I believe Barack Obama once referred to it as Messianic Certainty, and it’s the reason that convincing the people that need to be convinced is an exercise in futility.
In my humble opinion, the only way to really blog against theocracy is to continue to do what most participants in the campaign have been doing all along. Point out the hypocrisy, sheer idiocy, inconsistency, and flat out lies of the people who support that kind of nation. Tear apart their arguments, point out the fallacies in their talking points, and continue to show, through example, why their ideas are complete crap.
In short, I don’t think anyone needs to make a special post to tell people why a theocracy is a bad idea. I remember a poignant lesson that I learned from my 9th grade English teacher: “show them, don’t tell them”. Use your words and posts to show them why it’s a bad idea instead of simply telling them. And I think that’s what you’re already doing every single day. Keep up the good work! 
Note: This is a rather under-developed argument that I punched out rather quickly to get it out on the first day of this Blog against Theocracy weekend (as I will be on hiatus for the weekend, family still does the Easter thing). I took no time to refine or explain some of the points in the post, but if any comments are made that address those points, then I will certainly take the time to explain further.
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