--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is one thing that's very…" description: "\"This is one thing that's very interesting, how the people on the left always talk about separation of church and state. When you look at the theocracie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/allen-west-5219_america_this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interestin_2833547.png" --- # This is one thing that's very interesting, how the people… ![“This is one thing that's very interesting, how the people on the left always talk about separation of church and state. When you look at the theocracies all across the Middle East, where we look at constitutions that are based upon the Qur'an, I don't think you want to see that happening in the…” quote by Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/allen-west-5219_america_this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interestin_2833547.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/allen-west-5219_america_this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interestin_2833547.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/allen-west-5219_america_this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interestin_2833547.png) > “This is one thing that's very interesting, how the people on the left always talk about separation of church and state. When you look at the theocracies all across the Middle East, where we look at constitutions that are based upon the Qur'an, I don't think you want to see that happening in the United States of America. So it is a theocratic political construct.” [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that the U.S. cannot adopt a theocratic system like some Middle Eastern countries because it would conflict with its secular foundations. **In simple terms:** U.S. should stay secular, not become a theocracy. Key Takeaway Preserve separation of church and state. Themes politics religion secularism Mood thoughtful concerned Type analytical political When to use this quote - policy debates - constitutional drafting - public education - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theocracy constitutional law civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance religious values with secular governance? - What safeguards protect secularism? A Different Perspective Secularism may be challenged by cultural pressures and political rhetoric. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Theocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-theocratic-306417/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constructs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constructs/) [East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east/) [Happenings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happenings/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Look Theocracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-theocracies-3675464/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Theocracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theocracies-1686702/) [Theocracies Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theocracies-middle-3675465/) [Theocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theocracy/) [Theocratic Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theocratic-political-3675466/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [United states of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-of-america/) [Very interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-interesting/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Under theocracies and other authoritarian regimes, the rulers are the moral authorities. Under genuine democracy some basic values are entrenched in the legal system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/under-theocracies-and-other-authoritarian-regimes-the-rulers-are-the/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [When liberal celebs stammer out a litany of shopworn bleats about the administration's attempt to turn America into a theocratic prison state, people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lileks/when-liberal-celebs-stammer-out-a-litany-of-shopworn-bleats-about-the/) [James Lileks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lileks/) > [“Theocracies are hell.  A sign of a diseased culture.  For who speaks for the gods but the temples?  And the temples have their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/theocracies-are-hell-a-sign-of-a-diseased-culture-for-who-speaks-for/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [The blatant aggressiveness of theocracies I find distressing, because I grew up when Christians, Muslim and animists lived peacefully together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/the-blatant-aggressiveness-of-theocracies-i-find-distressing-because/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [“It’s a little-known fact that most terrorist groups fail, and that all of them die. Lest this seem hard to believe, just reflect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/it-s-a-little-known-fact-that-most-terrorist-groups-fail-and-that-all/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“As he defended the book one evening in the early 1980s at the Carnegie Endowment in New York, I knew that some of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/as-he-defended-the-book-one-evening-in-the-early-1980s-at-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Our country, though it is not a theocracy, you will not understand democracy if you don't understand the biblical foundations and traditions and foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/our-country-though-it-is-not-a-theocracy-you-will-not-understand/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“You are the only thing standing between them and the theocracy they want.   Diatribe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/you-are-the-only-thing-standing-between-them-and-the-theocracy-they/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“All governments are ordained by God, but none compare to government by God, theocracy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-bowen/all-governments-are-ordained-by-god-but-none-compare-to-government-by/) [William R. Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-bowen/) > [“It can certainly be misleading to take the attributes of a movement, or the anxieties and contradictions of a moment, and to personalize or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-can-certainly-be-misleading-to-take-the-attributes-of-a-movement/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [If you're a Christian and you're running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy, I'm not going to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/if-you-re-a-christian-and-you-re-running-for-president-and-you-want/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Dark influences from the American past congregate among us still. If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“There is no greater threat to liberty, peace and progress than theocracy.  Right now the Muslims just happen to be leading the race when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/there-is-no-greater-threat-to-liberty-peace-and-progress-than/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“The hijab-related deaths and death sentences in Iran show that breaking the attire laws is more dangerous adventure than breaking the nudity laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-n-prasher/the-hijab-related-deaths-and-death-sentences-in-iran-show-that/) [R. N. Prasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-n-prasher/) ## More by Allen West > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Liberals worry that what's best for the individual might not be better for the public at large. But that philosophy assumes something vicious about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/liberals-worry-that-what-s-best-for-the-individual-might-not-be/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [The great thing that I appreciate - the fact that my godfather, William 'Sticky' Jackson, was a Tuskegee Airman because my father was first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/the-great-thing-that-i-appreciate-the-fact-that-my-godfather-william/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [We are in a new Civil War, and just like the last, it is a struggle for the sanctity of the Union - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/we-are-in-a-new-civil-war-and-just-like-the-last-it-is-a-struggle-for/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I taught high school for one year in Deerfield Beach, Fla., and in the end, it was such an enjoyable experience breaking up fights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-taught-high-school-for-one-year-in-deerfield-beach-fla-and-in-the/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I do not believe having a baby is punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-do-not-believe-having-a-baby-is-punishment/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [The republic I fell in love with, the republic I risked my life to defend, the values I hold dear, the integrity that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/the-republic-i-fell-in-love-with-the-republic-i-risked-my-life-to/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [It is the liberal philosophy, not the conservative one, that views humans as selfish automatons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/it-is-the-liberal-philosophy-not-the-conservative-one-that-views/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Quite simply, federal laws already on the books aimed at stopping the flow of illegal immigration must be enforced. Furthermore, states must be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/quite-simply-federal-laws-already-on-the-books-aimed-at-stopping-the/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I think that Governor Romney needs to talk about the fact that what he tried to do in the state of Massachusetts was him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-think-that-governor-romney-needs-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-what/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [For far too long we've allowed the other side to paint us as racist, as sexist, inhumane war mongers - well, today as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/for-far-too-long-we-ve-allowed-the-other-side-to-paint-us-as-racist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I am willing to work with anyone that wants to do what is best for this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-am-willing-to-work-with-anyone-that-wants-to-do-what-is-best-for/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [While there are towns and cities still planning Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some think the day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/while-there-are-towns-and-cities-still-planning-memorial-day-parades/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [You had 42 blacks that ran on the Republican ticket this Cycle, 14 made of them made it to the general election and two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/you-had-42-blacks-that-ran-on-the-republican-ticket-this-cycle-14/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I'm not going to sit at home and eat popcorn,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-m-not-going-to-sit-at-home-and-eat-popcorn/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) [Explore all 102 Allen West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is one thing that's very interesting, how the people on the left always talk about separation of church and state. When you look at the theocracies all across the Middle East, where we look at constitutions that are based upon the Qur'an, I don't think you want to see that happening in the United States of America. So it is a theocratic political construct.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interesting-how-the-people-on-the-left/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interesting-how-the-people-on-the-left/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/allen-west-5219_america_this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interestin_2833547.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/allen-west-5219_america_this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interestin_2833547.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/allen-west-5219_america_this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interestin_2833547.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is one thing that's very interesting, how the people on the left always talk about separation of church…” — Allen West", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Allen West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This is one thing that's very...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interesting-how-the-people-on-the-left/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/this-is-one-thing-that-s-very-interesting-how-the-people-on-the-left/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```