Is a Theocratic Democracy really that bad?
Why is a Christian theocracy melded with Democracy a bad thing? Is it because it stands in the way of the secularist or Islamist agenda? Is it because it actually has bounds and brings unity to people? Is it because it makes us human?
Our democracy is being exploited. Many of our leaders don’t represent us. A very small number of people now control key points such as the media and obviously aren’t looking out for the good of the country or Christianity.
I think the church should become part of the state in Europe and America. It is the only way to save ourselves from relativism and secularism. Your thoughts?
First, a theocracy isn’t a "divine" ruling. It’s the church having a say in government. Second, if you don’t have a theocracy, do you know what you get? Secularism. You can’t pray in school, or in the workplace, you can’t mention Jesus or God, abortion and other immoral things are commonplace, etc. For all of you who are afraid of the Church having a say, maybe you should be more concerned about the havoc secularists are unleashing upon our nation. In another response, of course believe we should respect other religions. But they should respect the fact that we are the majority. Just like I respect the fact if I go to Israel its a Jewish state. Anyway,if the majority of Americans are Christians, what is the problem?
Well after reading the responses I’m a bit suprised. With all this tolerance and freedom, why can’t I have the freedom to even suggest or question forms of government? Sounds a little hypocritical.
BTW, most people(80-90%)in the US are Christians. Thats the truth.
Notice also how I never said I agreed with this form of government, I said MAYBE it might be good to some extend. You guys seem very afraid of any type of religious influence on society.
I’m Jewish – I’m NOT interested in living in a place where Christianity rules ANYTHING. (And by the way, Israel is NOT a theocracy and does NOT dictate the religion a person has to follow, or that a person has to follow ANY religion). You want religion and state mixed – try any of the Islamic countries – charming spots, right? If you think that Christianity would be better, you’re only kidding yourself.
The Christians who came to the new world came here to ESCAPE the tyranny of state religions such as you would support here. The original 13 "states" had different dominate faiths. The U.S. principle of separation of church and state largely came about because those 13 states wanted an agreement that a union of those 13 states and a federal government would not create a "state" religion", would not allow one state’s dominate religion to become "law of the land" like the situation in Europe. The result was a nation forged upon an amazingingly GOOD concept that people of many different belief systems could live together in peace and be safe within the joy of their own spiritual beliefs.
What you want, though, is not spiritual health or goodness or joy. What you want, is called fascism, the forced imposition of one’s pet set of sensibilities on everyone else. A true spiritual pursuit of goodness is a faith of one. There are, and will forever be, as many paths to goodness as there are human hearts. True spirituality is not a membership in a social club with political agendas and social engineering ambitions and delusions of having a monopoly on the "one – and – only – correct – path – to – God". Religious organizations with those characteristics are about the pursuit of power, not the pursuit of goodness.
Never will all humans believe the same way. You are either feebleminded or a liar when you say that the majority of people in the U.S. are Christians. There are over 13,000 separate varieties of "Christianity" and Christian churches in the U.S. alone, all of which absolutely disagree with each other. Which one would you suggest we allow to impose it’s narrow set of beliefs on everyone else? How about Christian Voodoo! It’s as legitimate of a Christian faith, sir, as whatever yours could possibly be.
The moronic Christian Evangelicals reported in "Faith and Nation" last fall that they would advocate for the violent overthrow of this nation’s government if their pet sensibilities are not made into legislation. Are you with THOSE so-called Christians, sir? If you are, you are against everything that democracy and living together in peace and this great American Dream is all about. That would make you my enemy. You should leave this fine nation, sir, and go find a land where fascism and state religion are more important than peace and freedom. You might consider Iraq. And, you should seriously consider a deeper exploration of faith in which tolerance is a part of your paradigm of the true path to goodness. Intolerance is not and does not lead to goodness. Intolerance leads to violence. Violence is not and does not lead to goodness.
The sort of state religion that you "envision" has been a terrible cancerous bane on civilization for thousands of years. I PRAY for the day when Christian weirdos "Rapture" off this planet once and for all and take with them all the other religious, hateful, fearful, intolerant, spiritually diseased fanatics of this world with them so that the rest of us decent folk may finally have some peace and goodness and tolerance and prosperty without the dread of whatever evil and horror and war and the pestilence of dogma and maintained-ignorance and bookburnings and emotional disease and Inquisitions and witch trials and cross-burnings and Crusades and Jihads and other such putrid acts of violence and terrorism in the name of "God" that fascists and religious fanatics continuously burden the heart of mankind with.
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I’m Jewish – I’m NOT interested in living in a place where Christianity rules ANYTHING. (And by the way, Israel is NOT a theocracy and does NOT dictate the religion a person has to follow, or that a person has to follow ANY religion). You want religion and state mixed – try any of the Islamic countries – charming spots, right? If you think that Christianity would be better, you’re only kidding yourself.
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This country’s founding fathers suggested that a separation between Church and State be observed and maintained. There are serious societal dangers of legislating morality and then punishing "sin" accordingly, not to mention the inherent discrimination that would result between people of different faiths, or perhaps even denominations within one particular faith.
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No.
You don’t think people are exploited by organized religion?
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Religion should never be involved in government. We have to base our laws on truth, and what is in the best interest of the freedom, equality, and well-being of our people. Religion is a structure of ignorance, no offense. Religious reasoning should never hold the same legal weight as real logic. A theocracy opens the door for baseless discrimination, and manipulation. It is a threat to the freedom to practice one’s own religion. It is a threat to freedom, in general. It is a threat to equality. Laws are not about belief, and like it or not, that’s all your religion, or anyone else’s is. Personal belief, which should be given no jurisdiction over the lives of anyone else. If you think a Christian government is such a good idea, think about how you would feel, if say, a Wiccan government, were established, here. Do you think it would be fair to you? No? Then have some empathy, and realize your religion should never be imposed on others, or given that manner of official superiority.
And Christianity, of all religions. No, I don’t think so. I’m not saying all Christians, or Christianity in general, is bad. But terrible things happen when you people are given power and influence. Inquisitions, witch trials, need I go on? All it takes is a few people to bend the meaning of their religion for their convenience, and literally anything can be "justified". Only a religiously neutral government can truly protect us from that.
Theocracy is a bad idea, plain and simple. Mankind needs to develop and progress away from ignorance and dependency on religion (and believe it or not, in general, deviating from religion tends to be more productive, in terms of peace, freedom, and equality. Morals that exist independently of religion are real, more reliable, and do not rely on "because this book says so".), not regress toward it.
Re: Additional Details
So…"This is what I believe, so it should influence the laws for everyone. We’re in the majority, so we should be able to push everyone else around. If you don’t like it, go somewhere where you’re in the majority." Where, then, are the rational, logical, nonreligious to go? Would you suggest we create a country for every belief system? Do you have any idea what kind of war and destruction would be wrought upon humanity, in such a scenario?
If you don’t have a theocracy, "what you get" is the freedom to believe and practice whatever you want, so long as you don’t infringe upon the rights of others. You can’t mention God or Jesus? Tell me something. When was the last time anyone arrested you or fined you for mentioning God or Jesus? You’re not a victim, you’re a pushy, ignorant aggressor. Government/public establishments can’t associate with God or Jesus. People as individuals are free to do and say what they want. "Abortion and other immoral things are commonplace." You believe abortion equate to murder. We don’t know that it does, and not everyone believes that it does. We can’t have people like you dictating things like that, based on personal belief. THAT is why a theocracy is a bad idea. "Anyway,if the majority of Americans are Christians, what is the problem?" The problem is that there are instances where majority should not have final say, and this is one of those instances. A majority should not be allowed to deprive others of their rights and freedom. There was a time when the majority of people believed slavery was good. Did that make it right? Popular does not equal right. Theocracy means rule by ignorance. That never ends well.
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Separation of myth from the government has and will be the defining value of our system of government. We do need to limit the powers of the presidency, as you can well tell it is the real problem.
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Based only on the true definitions of the words (theocracy & democracy), wouldn’t that be an utter impossibility? Consider:
theocracy – noun:
#1: the belief in government by *divine* guidance
democracy – noun:
#1: the political orientation of those who favor government *by the people* or by their elected representatives
#2: a political system in which the *supreme power lies in a body of citizens* who can elect people to represent them
#3: the doctrine that the numerical *majority of an organized group can make decisions* binding on the whole group.
It is apparent that True Theocracy & Democracy are in *direct opposition* to each other:
In theocracy, God’s Anointed King Christ Jesus Rules, as God’s representative,
http://watchtower.org/library/rq/article_06.htm
(What Is the Kingdom of God?)
&, mankind follows God’s righteous principles.
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2002/2/15/article_02.htm
(How You Can Benefit From Godly Principles)
In democracy, men chose what rules they wish to follow, & which to ignore, how far they feel they need to go to fulfil commitments, & who & how to discipline others who chose to do their own thing, too, but which is disagreeable to the majority. Democracy is not –& can not realistically be claimed to be– in any way Theocratic.
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2004/1/1/article_01.htm
(What Hope for Peace in Our Time?)
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2004/4/1/article_02.htm
(Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark)
Self-rule, even in the name of God, is just another human government… No different from when Adam & Eve decided to be independant from God… And,
Who *really* rules over human governments…?
–A Clue From World Conditions: http://watchtower.org/library/t22/who_rules.htm
So… ^Considering^… I might ask:
What’s so bad about True Theocracy, World Wide?
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The church is the biggest hokes in our history. God did not write anything down, but it was man alone with his own beliefs. Sure there are nice things written like moral living and the such. But also too there are much written that hurts our Democracy. i.e Spanish excusition. I caution you to believe half of what you here, and a quarter of what you read.
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God