Religious Membership Quotes
Even thought Iceland had an official church, it was not favored by requiring citizens to donate to it. All religions were treated equally and the official amount could be paid to whatever church the citizen belonged to. They even made provisions for atheists who would not have to donate to a religious organization.
The Supreme Court limited authority of religious courts to matters where both parties belonged to the religion. Jewish courts had tried to assert the power to annul mixed marriages where only one party was Jewish on the grounds that orthodox Jews oppose mixed marriage. Conflict between religious & civil courts has existed ever since there have been civil courts. Historically there was no separation & the Religious Courts in ancient Israel, early Christendom & Islam had universal jurisdiction. As Europe’s civil authorities wrested authority from religious courts, modernity has diminished or eliminated the legal jurisdiction of religious courts. Even in the United States there are courts operated by some religions; if members wish to voluntarily submit their disputes, they can. In most Islamic countries & Israel there are religious courts which have some authority over family & purely religious matters & in Muslim theocracies the religious courts are the only courts as in ancient times.
