Religion is an important part of almost every culture, and as such, it inevitably has an influence on a nation’s politics—sometimes to the extent that it dictates the way a country is governed.
Origins of theocracy
Although the word “theocracy” literally means rule by God or a god, in practice it is used to describe the government of a civil state by the leader (or leaders) of a particular religion, according to the laws prescribed by that religion.
The involvement of religious officials in government dates back to the ancient world, notably in Egypt and Syria, Tibet, and some periods of Buddhist rule in Japan and China. The idea of theocracy persisted into the Middle Ages, and even beyond. The Catholic Church wielded great political power with the pope at the head of the Holy Roman Empire, and various Islamic empires were ruled by a caliph, who was both the political and spiritual leader of Muslims around the world.
Religious rule today
There are few true theocracies in the modern world. They mainly exist in Islamic countries and include Iran, which has many religious officials in powerful governmental positions, led by a Supreme Leader who must be a respected scholar of Islamic law. Saudi Arabia is a semi-theocracy: although the monarch is not a religious official, the constitution of Saudi Arabia is the Koran and the Sunna (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad). The Roman Catholic Holy See is a notable non-Islamic example of a modern theocracy.
Many countries have an official state religion. In some cases, the head of state may also be the head of the state religion, as is the case in the United Kingdom, where the monarch is head of the Church of England. This is not considered a theocracy because the government is not seen to directly derive its powers from a divine authority.
Generally speaking, in the modern era, the trend toward liberal democracies has also meant a shift away from the involvement of religious institutions in government and toward more secular states.
THE DIVINE RIGHT OF MONARCHS
It is not only theocracies that claim God’s authority to rule; until the advent of secular democracies, many royal families were assumed to have the “divine right of kings.” As well as giving legitimacy to the hereditary monarchy, it was also often taken to mean that the monarch had absolute power and was accountable only to God. A similar idea existed in the dynasties of ancient China, whose kings and emperors were believed to have been granted the “mandate of heaven,” or approval by the gods to rule. This mandate could be withdrawn if the monarch failed in their responsibilities as a ruler.
Divine authority
In a theocracy, the laws and even the constitution of the state are thought to be dictated by God or his agents. Government should, therefore, be in the hands of those best suited to interpret and administer these divine laws—the priests and scholars who follow God’s calling.
Followers
In a theocracy, followers of the dominant religion accept the God-given authority of their rulers, respecting their judgment in interpreting and administering the law and their guidance in matters of morality.
Religious leader
The leader or leaders are generally ministers of the dominant religion or scholars of the holy texts. They are considered God’s representatives and are divinely guided in their actions.
Religious text
Most religions have a sacred text that contains their core beliefs, often as revealed to a prophet. The text is considered the word of God and, as such, is the infallible source of guidance for theocratic leaders.
Religious law
Some laws are in the holy scriptures; others come from interpretations of the texts by theologians.
Secular assembly
In some theocracies, a secular government, secondary to the religious one, tends to the everyday running of the country.
