text: Whether extreme evangelicals or any other religion, there can be a belief in the rule of the clerics, not the rule of law - theocracy. Theocratic rules go way back and were probably very useful to help govern civic life until democracy began 250 years ago. Religion lost public influence as democratic society evolved. Separation of church and state, and secularism emerged.
  
  In a pluralistic society based on universal human rights and rule of law -  harmony can be challenged by diversity. Rights and religious values conflict, and rights are not constitutionally absolute.  To get past their theocratic civic elements, Religious rights need to be more private. Theocratic elements can b e more public and actually divide and even alienate communities. It is a modest sacrifice that all people of good will should make - abandon the public civic elements..