The wind has a nip and the sun is weak. It is 6 in the evening and the street is bustling with people, animals and automobiles. Somehow no one notices the three tall men making their way to the café across the street with their faces radiating bewilderment. Their clothes are odd and their sideburns look straight out of a play. Their shoes are strangely angular and their walking sticks have an absurd curve. Once seated, the three men let out sighs of relief and pick up the newspaper; The New York Times, 15th October 2017. John Locke- I reckon all the people in the world live in this street? Thomas Hobbes- I would believe so, Sir. Never have my eyes seen such chaos. It seems like the world has undergone a complete transformation from the number …show more content…
My opinion is that there must exist a “civil religion”. Word Count-211 John Locke and Thomas Hobbes- (Together) “Civil religion”? Jean-Jacques Rousseau- Yes Gentlemen. “Civil Religion” is a group of religious beliefs that are universal. Also where the Government has a right to uphold and maintain these beliefs. The rules of this religion however should be simple, precise and few in number .Beyond that, individuals’ religious opinions should lie beyond the reach of the government. Thomas Hobbes- What would you reckon these religious beliefs that form a civil religion would be? Jean-Jacques Rousseau- Belief in a deity, belief in afterlife in which virtue is awarded and vice is punished and belief in religious tolerance. John Locke- Oh no, you too Rousseau? We don’t need to tell the people what to believe …show more content…
This pursuit of internal salvation is one to be directed by a religious body which can be followed regardless of where one is born. Thomas Hobbes- Well Sir Rousseau, do not fret over the ability of the sovereign to deliver Word Count-182 actual salvation! The only job of the sovereign is to rule and maintain social order. You must understand how fragmented religious minds can create a huge wave of chaos for the sovereign. Thousands of people have different ideas about God and their own purpose in life, they follow different paths, believe in different good and evil, hence they are bound to clash and the society is bound to crumble under the weight of their differences. Look at the headline for God’s sake Gentlemen! Look what a secular State has achieved! Chaos and death. Jean-Jacques Rousseau- Sir, I understand your point but you do not seem to understand ours! I do believe that certain religious practices should be fixed and imposed by the government but religion is in its core, a matter of faith. The sovereign cannot tell anyone what to have faith in. Religious freedom is