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I'll admit that as an agnostic I'm biased about not wanting to live in a theocracy, however, they don't increase your religious freedom, even if yours is the state religion. Which denomination of Christianity are you? Is it the biggest? Will yours be the one in charge? Because Catholicism is the biggest, so if it came to a vote they would win. We would live under what I call the "popesident-for-life." Which denomination should be in charge? You put two different Christians in a room and don't put in atheist or Muslim in there for them to gang up on and they will tear each other apart trying to figure out whether the day of rest is Saturday or Sunday or whether dancing is immoral.
Theocracy ends all other possible modes of worship and theocratic states have historically been among the absolute worst places of corruption, dictatorship, poverty and inequality. One of the big reasons the separation of church and state was created by the founding fathers was their fear that we would end up being England and have an endorsed church. Trust me, nothing good will happen for Christianity if you fuse it with the state and give your personal beliefs over to the teeming masses. In the same way I don't want to be forced to be Christian, do you want to be forced to believe what you're supposed to?
The truth is that no human being wants democracy. We don't always get what we want. We all crave monarchy where we are the king or queen. I think that's what we all want deep down. So sometimes it looks like we want to be oppressed by a tyrant, but it's only because we think one day we'll be that tyrant. The same way people don't want to tax the rich because they know one day they'll be rich.
As for the effectiveness of prayer in reducing crime, it's had a bad track record. Endless crimes, wars and atrocities have been done in the name of religion over human history. I'm not saying that makes religion bad. I know far too many Christians (and members of other religions) who walk the walk to say that. But as an institutionalized government, religion has not delivered the safety and morality promised by its teachers. The two main ideas are that prayer will stir God to action or that increase in religiosity will naturally bring about peace because of increased morality.
I disregard the notion that morality is linked to religion. Religion can provide morality and morality can create religion, but they are far from inseparable. To my mind, that is essentially you saying that me or someone like me would do such a heinous act. I take as much offense to that as if I said to you that Christians are more dangerous because of their violent Bible. Beyond that, it simply isn't true. Other countries that have far higher numbers of atheists and agnostics have far lower crime rates. There are countries where other religions are dominant, but they also have lower crime rates. All human beings are capable of morality or immorality, regardless of their personal beliefs.
As for the possibility that prayer will cause God's protection to return (as men like Pat Robertson would suggest) is patently offensive. I don't know if there's a God or not, but to suggest that He would murder children as an act of revenge because He doesn't have enough people singing His praises is to suggest that God is a narcissistic monster.
If you want to pass on your beliefs and traditions to your children, then teach them yourself. Don't use my taxpayer money to do it. Don't tell me what and how to teach my children either. The whole country will never be Christian. But on the flipside that means you never have to worry about the whole country being Muslim or atheist either. We are a melting pot of all races, religions and cultures and that's how it should stay.
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Ben Franklin