Changing the rules
These are things I would change about my world, not where I'm living now in World's End. It's a lot more progressive there.
1. There would be freedom of religion for all - provided that said religion wasn't hurting anyone. Religious beliefs that were hurting someone would be outlawed, and counseling would be given to those people who had been members of such an organization to help them get over those beliefs.
2. Primary education would be free for everyone, and there would be no homeschooling unless you were given training to school your children, or a curriculum of some sort to adhere to so they got a fair and equal education to publicly schooled or privately schooled children.
3. Homosexuals would be allowed the same rights as heterosexuals. I've done a lot of thinking on this issue since meeting Iggy and Christian, and Katie and Dot, and Juice and Kyle. They love each other just like other people do. There's no reason they should be considered abominations to God, or second class citizens.
4. Politicians should only be allowed to talk about what they would do for the country and their own personal records, not about how bad their opponent is and how questionable their political and religious records are. It's just way too much mudslinging and it's definitely not very Christian of them to spread such things about each other.
5. We should do more help the homeless and those in need regardless of their religious affiliation. Aid should not be given to those who follow the mother church only while others suffer, and are only given help if they agree to convert and show they will be a responsible active member of the faith.
6. Counseling should be given to those who have been demoniacally possessed and undergone exorcism, and to those who have been affected by demonic violence. It's a very harrowing experience and once you are de-possessed, you're pretty much on your own with no guidance from church or state.
7. People should be allowed to hold different religious beliefs without other people being prejudiced against them. If you are not a provable good Catholic, you can't get a good job or get into a good college or anything back home. And everyone looks down on you. I'm thinking about Christian who is so smart and has to work a fast food job because he's a known gnostic and a homosexual- and it's just not fair.
8. There would be more support for private enterprise, and less church-owned or church-backed corporations. There are so many lands and so many businesses controlled by the church. There are plenty of privately owned businesses, sure-- but it seems like whenever they get too popular or do too well - the church buys them out or offers a merger and then things change about the business.
9. Colleges would be easier to get into, and more affordable. There would be education for all people, and if you weren't able to do the work on a college level, you would get some education to help bring you up to speed. Colleges would help you find a job when you graduated, or get you an internship with a company.
10. The selling of indulgences would be outlawed completely, not offered as special 'get out of sin free' cards during various church fund raisers and raffles during the holy season. If something is to be considered a sin, it should always be a sin, not be excusable if you have a prepaid pass. Though really, a lot of things that are considered sins now shouldn't be-- so the whole system should be reexamined really.
1. There would be freedom of religion for all - provided that said religion wasn't hurting anyone. Religious beliefs that were hurting someone would be outlawed, and counseling would be given to those people who had been members of such an organization to help them get over those beliefs.
2. Primary education would be free for everyone, and there would be no homeschooling unless you were given training to school your children, or a curriculum of some sort to adhere to so they got a fair and equal education to publicly schooled or privately schooled children.
3. Homosexuals would be allowed the same rights as heterosexuals. I've done a lot of thinking on this issue since meeting Iggy and Christian, and Katie and Dot, and Juice and Kyle. They love each other just like other people do. There's no reason they should be considered abominations to God, or second class citizens.
4. Politicians should only be allowed to talk about what they would do for the country and their own personal records, not about how bad their opponent is and how questionable their political and religious records are. It's just way too much mudslinging and it's definitely not very Christian of them to spread such things about each other.
5. We should do more help the homeless and those in need regardless of their religious affiliation. Aid should not be given to those who follow the mother church only while others suffer, and are only given help if they agree to convert and show they will be a responsible active member of the faith.
6. Counseling should be given to those who have been demoniacally possessed and undergone exorcism, and to those who have been affected by demonic violence. It's a very harrowing experience and once you are de-possessed, you're pretty much on your own with no guidance from church or state.
7. People should be allowed to hold different religious beliefs without other people being prejudiced against them. If you are not a provable good Catholic, you can't get a good job or get into a good college or anything back home. And everyone looks down on you. I'm thinking about Christian who is so smart and has to work a fast food job because he's a known gnostic and a homosexual- and it's just not fair.
8. There would be more support for private enterprise, and less church-owned or church-backed corporations. There are so many lands and so many businesses controlled by the church. There are plenty of privately owned businesses, sure-- but it seems like whenever they get too popular or do too well - the church buys them out or offers a merger and then things change about the business.
9. Colleges would be easier to get into, and more affordable. There would be education for all people, and if you weren't able to do the work on a college level, you would get some education to help bring you up to speed. Colleges would help you find a job when you graduated, or get you an internship with a company.
10. The selling of indulgences would be outlawed completely, not offered as special 'get out of sin free' cards during various church fund raisers and raffles during the holy season. If something is to be considered a sin, it should always be a sin, not be excusable if you have a prepaid pass. Though really, a lot of things that are considered sins now shouldn't be-- so the whole system should be reexamined really.