"When a Man stops believing in God he doesn’t then believe in nothing, he believes anything." these words by Gilbert K. Chesterton aren't absolutely true ;) I have met enough wonderful atheists in my life to know it but as a general rule they are true in this respect that people tend to seek greater power they may turn to, trust in, have hopes connected to. If they cease believing in God their faith may easily turn to something else, which may or may not be a problem.
Recently one very interesting and - in my opinion - pretty sad trend in Europe has emerged, showing what this 'anything' may look like. Europe becomes more and more non-religious and post-christian. For many native Europeans it is the matter of tradition (if anything at all), rather than living faith.
Nevertheless, in parallel with becoming less Christian and more (by immigration) Muslim there is yet another process in Europe, that started possibly some 80 years ago, accelerated after WWII and resembles, in many respects, religious beliefs.
It bears some similarity to a local version of cargo cults, which developed in Polynesia during WWII, where on certain little islands, never before touched by civilization, people were building models of planes (seen when army was using these islands) and subsequently burning them to bring new transports of chewing gum, cigarettes and chocolate.
It is the cult of the state as something external, omnipotent and caring for its subjects (or even loving them). As indispensable as it may be state is not an absolute being from other reality (as some Europeans feel) but something connecting us, for which we are responsible as a society.
It still isn't obvious for many that the only source of its income are taxes (so, basically, our money) and only so much can be spent for education, health, fighting unemployment, paying for agriculture (heavily subsidized), all the bureaucrats and social programs and whatever else the state is funding/ organizing/ taking care of (and, which is pretty worrisome, it is more and more hard to point anything the state isn't considering its duty to take care of, at least in Europe). Of course together with it it takes responsibility and blame for things done and not done.
More and more often one hears that the state has to teach citizens about the merit of something or another or how they are to bring up children, how to eat, how to (not) smoke or drink, what to believe in, what to consider right or wrong.
Together with these voices I hear how a state cares for us, well, being grown up and with my own views and opinions I'd rather care for myself. However, it is becoming increasingly hard because of the taxes, which approach (VAT and compulsory social security included) 80% average income in some countries (not only Sweden). And I must admit that the very idea of state employees in revenue or health control or employment office deeply caring for every person like they were near and dear is preposterous. Nevertheless, we are supposed to believe it.
The state is no different from us, it spends what it takes from us, it is as good/ bad or as fair or honest as the people are. Nonetheless, the idea of "welfare state" was designed so as to convince people the state is their protector and caregiver. This benevolent entity is supposed to secure just life for its people, provide health for them and their children and take care of their retirement. Obviously it won't or if it will than for a very short time and the price will be high.
Isn't it challenging to look at the state as we should look only at God, looking for an absolute where there is organization made by humans like us? Hoping for protection and caring and loving and understanding where there is only a legal concept and a redistribution system? Did people forfeited God for something like Babel tower where pride was speaking, trying to take place of Him?
I remember conversation God had with Samuel when Israel wanted the king "like all other nations" for the very first time. Was it a warning against what may happen when we will put man-created state at the place of God and sever links between creators (responsible citizens) and creation (state). It will never be an ideal. It can't, as we are not ideal as people and we can't create ideals. If we will take care of it with responsibility it may be good, but out of itself it will never be kind of dreamlike king or ideal community people seem to be seeking. It has no potential for it.
So let's not make God out of a state.
BTW Countries built from the bottom by citizens like Canada, Australia, the USA are more prone to this trend, apparently people still remember it is no absolute but their creation, loved and lovable, maybe,but as far from ideal as people.
And one of the greatest democracies is Israel when people still are very aware of the state's value (not 3 generations after countries they've been living in for centuries deprived them from protection or weren't able to offer it) but at the same time remember THEIR struggle for it and creating it, feel responsible and never (or nearly never) mistake it by something unearthly although it IS the only one promised by God.
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