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Politics And Religion |
By:
Kenyatta Hardy |
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Separation of Church and State in France -- today this
democratic principal divides Christianity in the country and has
ignited the possibility of a controversial alliance between
evangelical Christians and Muslims. One may soon see a well
known French bishop set up a series of events that not only
forward his mission to spread Christianity throughout France and
the Francophone but support Muslim growth in France as well,
resulting in closer ties between the seemingly rival religions.
Last week Nicolas Sarkozy, a French Interior Minister, appointed
a commission to study possible changes in a law dividing the
spiritual and temporal spheres, thereby challenging the hundred
year old French law separating church and state. The law is
based on three principles: the neutrality of the state, the
freedom to exercise religion, and public powers related to the
church. This law is seen as the backbone of the French principle
laïcité which states "The Republic neither recognizes, neither
salaries, neither subsidizes any religion".
The law, originally passed in 1905, had the wide spread support
of French citizens as well as the Catholic Church. It still
does. But with France's rapidly declining Catholic population
many feel this law's time has come and gone. In 1980, 80% of
French citizens declared themselves Catholic, as opposed to
1996, the year of the Pope's visit, when only 63% of the
population classified themselves as Catholic. Along with the
down trending adherence to the Catholic religion, it should be
noted that France's Muslim population, (currently six million),
is growing five times faster than the nominal Catholic
population. If these rates hold steady, Muslims will outnumber
Catholics in less than three generations. This burgeoning Muslim
population generally supports proposed changes in the law which
would allow for a number of benefits including limited
governmental assistance for building Mosques.
Considering the alarming decline in Catholic belief and practice
in France, it is also noteworthy to report that green shoots of
faith-based evangelical Christian churches and congregations are
taking root both in France and the Francophone. These
evangelical Christians and the Catholic Church are divided on
the law change issue and it is the Muslims and Evangelicals that
are, coincidentally, finding themselves on the same side.
The basis for the conflict is two fold. While public money
subsidizes everything from big companies to small clubs in
France, the law bars any direct public help for building houses
of worship. Secondly, Muslims sometimes have problems getting
building permits from conservative town councils, and the
evangelicals -- mostly immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean
-- face hostility from some left-wing officials. The proposed
change in the law would protect both of these groups and allow
them to grow.
One evangelical leader of note is Bishop Mike Jocktane. A
prominent Christian Bishop and influential political leader in
his own right, Jocktane may be the glue that leads the entire
faith movement through these issues in France and also gets the
Muslims to join the fight. A duel citizen of France and Gabon,
Jocktane is in a unique position to helm the faith movement in
both France and the Francophone through his vast ministry and
his organization Impact Francophone. Impact Francophone has as
its mission the unification of the various French speaking
peoples by and through the growth of Christianity throughout
France and the Francophone.
Bishop Jocktane has strong political ties with the French,
Gabonese, and throughout Africa, as well as a following in the
United States. He has a purpose-driven life with Christ and a
peace plan for the world as his fuel. He oversees a large number
of churches in Africa and has now established an office and
church in Paris. He is a graduate of the Christ For The Nations
Institute and holds a degree in theology from Oral Roberts
University.
"In some ways I want to even the playing field for any religion
to flourish", says Jocktane. "To some that may not seem
politically correct but true spirituality is the glue that binds
humanity and culture". Jocktane is clearly living up to a
fundamental Christian belief of doing to others as one would
want others to do unto oneself.
The next few months will be an interesting period of French
history as forces in the evangelical Christian movement, lead by
such influential Bishops as Jocktane, appear to join hands with
those in the Muslim community, in their mutual quest for more
even handed treatment from certain government institutions.
Interestingly enough this type of confluence of interest could
spark better relations between two of the largest religions in
the world. Considering the events of today that couldn't be a
bad thing.
Kenyatta Hardy Contributing Writer Press Direct International
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Article Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article6442.html |
Article: Politics and Religion
Author: Kenyatta Hardy
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Word Count: 701
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