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Are there any Sound Arguments for Theocracy?

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
Are there any sound arguments for theocracy? If so, what are they?

As far as I can see, the existence of a sound argument for theocracy is contingent on the veracity of the belief that a given set of laws is indeed ordained by a god or gods who desire the well-being of conscious creatures via said set of laws. Since I have yet to see any good reason to believe that there is a god or gods--much less a god or gods that fit the criteria I mentioned--I remain unconvinced that there is any sound argument for theocracy.

The premise of theocracy is faulty to begin with, in my opinion. So, while the reasoning for theocracy could be sound in case of accepting the faulty premise, the argument still wouldn't hold water against facts.
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
My goodness! What a question to get me started! All JW’s, for that matter!
1) A world government. — Daniel 7:13-14
2) No other governments allowed to interfere. — Daniel 2:44
3) No one wanting to hurt others. — Psalms 37:10-11
4) Plenty of food for everyone. — Psalms 72:16
5) No more sickness. — Isaiah 33:24
6) No more death. — Revelation 21:3-4
7) Seeing your dead loved ones again, when you and they are resurrected. — John 5:28-29
8) Peace worldwide, even between animals and man. — Isaiah 11:6-9.
9) Everyone with ailments will be healed. — Isaiah 35:5-6
10) The Earth will be a Paradise, restored (per John Milton, lol) — Isaiah 35:1-2

——-All of this is a fulfillment of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth.” — Matthew 6:9-10
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
I know, I know.....sound arguments are what was asked. It always strikes me, though, how many religious hope to go to heaven, when the Bible talks about the Earth so much!

 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Are there any sound arguments for theocracy? If so, what are they?
Perhaps in some form of alternate world. Not in this one.

There is a boatload of good arguments against it, though. All the more so when one pays any attention to the practical meaning and consequences of what is usually proposed as part of theocratic proposals.

If the form of deity that theocrats tend to envision existed, I would have to assume that it expects people to rise above theocratic longings - or else to simply be unworthy.
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
Are there any sound arguments for theocracy? If so, what are they?

Its all a matter of perspective.

If you believe in God as the All-wise physician that has His finger on the pulse of mankind and in His unerring wisdom prescribes the remedy the world needs then yes.

If you believe God to a man made construct for one group of gain power over another, then obviously not.
 

Shad

Veteran Member
Its all a matter of perspective.

If you believe in God as the All-wise physician that has His finger on the pulse of mankind and in His unerring wisdom prescribes the remedy the world needs then yes.

If you believe God to a man made construct for one group of gain power over another, then obviously not.

That is an axiom so bypasses the OP question of soundness. Both examples are a truth statement prior to the question of soundness rendering the question illogical.

Have you stopped beating your wife? You can not answer this question without acknowledging the wife beater axioms. You can dismiss the axiom thus the question is nonsense without evidence of you being a wife beater.
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
Not in today's world. There are no religions or interpretations of religion popular enough that could step up their game to be worthy alternatives.
 

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
Are there any sound arguments for theocracy? If so, what are they?
Being governed by the Laws of God, where everyone is Godly is functional; when we're near Hell, and mankind is full of ego, then no form of rule will ever be truly functional.

Our reality is manifest by a theocracy in Heaven, where the Arch Angels (Avatars, Elders, Elohim) who created reality submit to the Most High.

It is cited by the dictionary that Moses had a theocracy until Saul was appointed king, that is just plain stupid...

Moses pointed out the people didn't follow the instructions set, and would eventually go the complete opposite (Deuteronomy 31:24-29).

Whereas Tibet, American Indian, Hawaiian, Druid, and other shamanic cultures were more like theocracies, before the influx of authoritarian religions.

In my opinion
. :innocent:
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
That is an axiom so bypasses the OP question of soundness. Both examples are a truth statement prior to the question of soundness rendering the question illogical.

Have you stopped beating your wife? You can not answer this question without acknowledging the wife beater axioms. You can dismiss the axiom thus the question is nonsense without evidence of you being a wife beater.

I'm not following your reasoning here.

The OP question is a reasonable one and no disrespect intended.

My point is a simple one. A (mono)theist is much more likely to see value in a theocracy than an atheist. The two opposing worldviews of course have contadictory assumptions as a starting point (eg God exists and is good vs God does not exist)

Another approach to the question is historic. Three monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have all been the basis of some degree of theocracy. Have they not formed an essential part of the process we call civilisation that has brought us to where we find ourselves today? Monotheistic religiion has contributed much that is positive as well as negative.

Every tree that bears fruit will eventually fade into the twilight and new life will replace it.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Are there any sound arguments for theocracy? If so, what are they?

The only time I believe there is any sound argument for a theocracy is if all citizens under rule of the theocratic government are followers of a specified deity. As I see it, any other scenario creates a possibility of rebellion.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Well, a Druidic theocracy would mean our species would actually behave in a way that isn't wrecking the biodiversity of the planet and its capacity to sustain life (human or otherwise). So there's that...

Ruling in the name of the gods and putting the
rest of the planet first would be a very nice change of pace at this point, IMO.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
I'm not following your reasoning here.

The OP question is a reasonable one and no disrespect intended.

My point is a simple one. A (mono)theist is much more likely to see value in a theocracy than an atheist. The two opposing worldviews of course have contadictory assumptions as a starting point (eg God exists and is good vs God does not exist)

That is true, but ultimately irrelevant. The starting points are not supposed to matter much - if at all - because they both must be evaluated in relation to what actually happens and exists.


Another approach to the question is historic. Three monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have all been the basis of some degree of theocracy. Have they not formed an essential part of the process we call civilisation that has brought us to where we find ourselves today?

To the best of my knowledge, no, they have not. I take it that you have learned differently? How so?


Monotheistic religiion has contributed much that is positive as well as negative.

And the question is therefore how the two quantities compare, if a comparison is possible.

Every tree that bears fruit will eventually fade into the twilight and new life will replace it.
Therefore?
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
Are there any sound arguments for theocracy? If so, what are they?

It strikes me that ultimately, philosophical ground is our values. I value modern human rights and critical thinking, so for me, theocracy is a non-starter.

But someone with different values could argue for theocracy. Sadly, I think that a lot of people want to be slaves to a higher power, so for them, theocracy might be satisfying.
 
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