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Line 26: − + − * 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]]. − −
→Examples of Theocracies: expanded chronological listing of historical theocracies
==Examples of Theocracies==
==Examples of Theocracies==
* [[Israel]] was a theocracy before King Saul.
* Pagan kingdoms and empires under god-kings and [[pharaoh]]s and [[shaman]]s in ancient times before 1000 B.C. and up into the 19th century, in the Far East, Africa, Pre-colonial Americas and Pacific islands.
* [[Israel]] was a theocracy before [[Saul|King Saul]] was anointed c. 1040 as God's representative, subject to the prophet [[Samuel]].
* The United Monarchy of Judah and Israel under the anointed kings [[David]] and [[Solomon]], and then Judah under the anointed kings in the line of David, from [[Rehoboam]] to [[Zedekiah]] ([[Siege of Jerusalem 587 B.C.]])
* After the [[Maccabees|Maccabean Revolt]], [[Judea]] was a theocracy 152 B.C. to 63 B.C. under the [[Hasmoneans|Hasmonean dynasty]] of the high priests.
* The Christian Roman Empire after [[Constantine]] (c. A.D. 363).
* The [[Byzantine empire]] and [[Holy Roman empire|Christian Europe]] under the [[Holy Roman emperor]]s, 4th through 15th centuries. [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]] holds that a true emperor is God's anointed representative on earth.
* The several hundred year old [[Buddhist]] theocracy headed by the [[Dalai Lama]], before [[atheist]] [[Communist China]] invaded [[Tibet]] in 1950 in order to "liberate" it from religion.
* The [[Papal States]] under the Catholic popes, until 1870.
* The [[Russia]]s under the [[Czar]] as emperor, obedient to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] up to Nicholas II (1917).
* [[Salt Lake City]] and [[Utah]] under the prophets and Council of Elders of the [[Mormonism|Latter-day Saints]] in the 19th century in the United States.
* 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>
* 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>
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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==
==Theocracy as tyranny==