|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | '''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>
| + | #REDIRECT [[User:Aschlafly]] |
| − | 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.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | 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.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | ==Theocracy as tyranny==
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[C.S. Lewis]] wrote:
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | :Of all tyrannies, a [[tyranny]] sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under [[robber barons]] than under omnipotent moral 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]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Theocracy may also describe any government which seeks to impose religious principles or law, such as the [[Sharia]], or the Hindu laws of [[Manu Smriti]] <ref>The laws of Manu <i>George Buhler, translated by</i> [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu.htm]</ref> on its population, even if the government is formally [[secular]].
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | One well known example of such a state is Saudi Arabia who's legal system is based on the Sharia law, 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.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | ==Theocracy and the Kingdom of Heaven==
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | In a society where most people are centered on God, and really in touch with His love and His will, the formal system of laws and courts will probably be less necessary.
| + | |
| − | [[Sun Myung Moon|Rev. Moon]] said, "Eventually we will not need elections. If people go back to their hometowns and serve they will be 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)
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | This idea is in contrast to the [[Taliban]]-style theocracy, in which [[Sharia law]] is imposed with sticks and whips and swords.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | [[Category:Religion]]
| + | |
| − | [[Category:Forms of Government]]
| + | |
| − | == See also ==
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | *[[Philosophy]]
| + | |
| − | *[[Jewish philosophy]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | ==References==
| + | |
| − | <references/>
| + | |
