David Giacalone at  f/k/a has posted an alert for the blawgosphere about BAT08 – Blog Against Theocracy 2008 – taking place this upcoming Easter weekend, March 21 – 23, 2008.  As explained,

The theme [of the blogswarm], like always, is the Separation of Church and State — we are for it. But the variations on the theme are many…This is not a bashing of religion – peeps can believe what they choose, however they choose — but it is a reminder that the Government should keep out of religion, and Religion should keep out of the government.

I’ve just learned what a  blogswarm is, “the analogy is to that of a swarm of locusts (bloggers) descending on a wheat field (story or news item). The effect of the blogswarm is to catapult a story or news item to the forefront of the national discussion for that day or week.”  If nothing else, it creates a larger discussion of the issues, and it strikes me that Easter is a perfect opportunity to discuss the separation of Church and State. 


(Photo gratuitously taken from David Giacalone, but post-hoc permission granted on the basis that nobody buys anything from me because of it, so everybody has to promise not to or I’m in deep trouble with David.)

As so many of us will engage in both the festivities of the day, as well as the solemn meaning of the resurrection, we do so without regard to any government permitting us, encouraging us or joining us, in doing so.  Religion exists inside individuals.  We need no government to approve of our beliefs this Easter.

This is always a controversial subject, and tends to bring out some very strong opinions.  I’ll refrain from discussing it now since the point of this exercise is to put it all on the table at the same time. 

I urge anyone and everyone interested in the subject to join in this blogswarm.  It is critical to recognize that this has nothing to do with bashing religion, any religion, but is about government’s role relative to all religions. 

So join the blogswarm this week end and Blog Against Theocracy.  Where tall boots, just for safety.