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'''Theocracy''' is a form of [[government ]] ruled by divine means or by leaders considered to be divinely guided. [[Israel]] was a theocracy before King Saul. The Islamic Republic of [[Iran]] is a modern-day theocracy, as many commentators believe that the real power in its government lies not in allegedly "democratically-elected" leaders like [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] but in clerics within the government since Iranian law requires Presidential candidates to be approved by the [[Guardian Council]] <ref> Access Denied: Iran’s Exclusionary Elections <i>Human Rights Watch</i> [http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/mena/iran0605/]</ref> and some Iranian laws on homosexuality and adultery come from the Sharia <ref>Netherlands, Sweden: Bar Deportations to Torture in Iran- Officials Must Not Return Gay and Lesbian Asylum Seekers to Iran <i>Human Rights Watch </i>[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/10/06/sweden14361.htm]</ref>. The [[Vatican]] is a formal Christian theocracy, with the [[Pope]] as head of both church and state.

==Examples of Theocracies==* [[Israel]] was a theocracy before King Saul.  * The [[Islamic Republic]] of [[Iran]] is a modern-day theocracy, as many commentators believe that the real power in its government lies not in allegedly "democratically-elected" leaders like [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] but in [[cleric]]s within the government since Iranian law requires [[President]]ial candidates to be approved by the [[Guardian Council]] <ref> Access Denied: Iran’s Exclusionary Elections <i>Human Rights Watch</i> [http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/mena/iran0605/]</ref> and some Iranian laws on [[homosexuality]] and [[adultery]] come from the [[Sharia]] <ref>[[Netherlands]], [[Sweden]]: Bar Deportations to [[Torture]] in Iran- Officials Must Not Return Gay and Lesbian [[Asylum]] Seekers to Iran <i>Human Rights Watch </i>[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/10/06/sweden14361.htm]</ref>.  * The [[Vatican]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] is a formal [[Christian]] theocracy, with the [[Pope]] as head of both church and state. By technicality, [[Vatican City]] is a theocracy, as it is ruled by the Pope, placed by a divine election. * Before [[atheist]] [[Communist China]] invaded [[Tibet]] in 1950 in order to "liberate" it from the several hundred year old [[Buddhist]] theocracy headed by the [[Dalai Lama]]. * Only two democracies reserve places in their legislature specifically for representatives of the state religion, these are the aforementioned Islamic Republic of Iran and the [[United Kingdom]] where Bishops of the [[Church of England]] sit in the upper chamber, the [[House of Lords]] under the designation of Lords Spiritual. By technicality, [[Vatican City]] is a theocracy, as it is ruled by the Pope, placed by a divine election.

:Of all tyrannies, a [[tyranny]] sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most [[oppression|oppressive]]. It would be better to live under [[Robber Baron|robber barons]] than under omnipotent moral [[busybody|busybodies]]. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own [[conscience]]. [http://www.tsowell.com/quotes.html]

One well known example of such a state is Saudi Arabia where the legal system is based on Sharia ([[Islamic law ]] as interpreted by state authorities), [[Saudi Arabia ]] also has a [[religious police]] <ref>Saudi Arabia - The Legal System <i>U.S. Library Of Congress</i> [http://countrystudies.us/saudi-arabia/51.htm]</ref>

In [[Israel]], civil cases under the [[Halakhah]] (traditional [[Jewish ]] law based on the [[Torah]]) are allowed.

[[Sun Myung Moon|Rev. Moon]] said, "Eventually we will not need elections[[election]]s. If people go back to their hometowns and serve they will be asked to take public offices, become a [[king ]] or [[queen]], whoever becomes the center of their hometown does not need to be elected." (unofficial sermon notes, Nov. 23, 2010)

*Stifling of [[free speech]] and [[freedom of religion]]. In a theocracy, it would be counterlogical to allow the citizens [[citizen]]s to know, or accept other religions or ideologies. Presumably, some mechanism will be placed to prevent dangerous speech, or make the ideas within artificially unwanted. *Thought is severely engineered, to prevent "dangerous" thoughts ([[Atheism]], etc).*Unaccountable government. Because the government is supposedly an extension of a deity, they cannot be held accountable. [[Category:Religion]][[Category:Forms of Government]]

 *[[PhilosophyIslamic republic]]*[[Jewish philosophy]]* [[Oligarchy]]* [[Aristocracy]]* [[Corporatocracy]] - [[Crony capitalism]]* [[Dictatorship]]* [[Kleptocracy]]* [[Meritocracy]]* [[Military junta]]* [[Oligopoly]]* [[Plutocracy]]* [[Technocracy]]

<references/>{{reflist|2}}  [[Category:Religion]][[Category:Forms of Government]]