What do Christians think about government funding for faith based social programs?
I submitted a debating topic about a week ago about the proper role of religious reasoning in political discourse. Available here.
I was really surprised because everyone (that commented) agreed that religious reasons had no place in political discourse! Sweet! Common ground!
So I'm going to go a little bit farther and see if we still agree. I contend that the government should not fund any social programs attached to a religious organization.
In a pluralistic society, like the U.S., (see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Religions_of_the_United_States.png) there are a significant number of people who do not fit the majority belief system.
Social programs, meanwhile, are generally put in place for people in crisis, or at least very difficult, life situations. We're talking about things like homelessness, addiction, domestic violence, and poverty. When help is offered to people in these situations, it is simply unrealistic to say that they have a true choice in turning down that help.
Therefore, attaching that help to a religious organization is tantamount to coerced proselytizing. I realize that several religious organizations say that their social missions and their religious missions can be effectively divided, but I simply don't believe it. A man or woman who is dedicated enough to God to be helping people in trouble in His name, is also dedicated enough to preach in the soup kitchen. And that doesn't even count the persuasive impacts of receiving help in a church or other place of worship.
So, Christians, same basic question as last time: Is this fair? Does this unreasonably restrict your ability to get your political and social goals accomplished?
tl;dr: government funding for religious social programs is coerced proselytizing and shouldn't be allowed.
Posted Nov 3, 2010, 7:13 PM UTC