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==Examples of Theocracies==

==Examples of Theocracies==

* 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]], [[India]], [[Africa]], Pre-colonial [[Americas]] and [[Polynesia|Pacific islands]].

* Pagan kingdoms and empires under god-kings and [[pharaoh]]s and [[Shamanism|shaman]]s in ancient times before 1000 B.C. and up into the 19th century, in the [[Far East]], [[India]], [[Africa]], Pre-colonial [[Americas]] and [[Polynesia|Pacific islands]].

* [[Israel]] was a theocracy before [[Saul|King Saul]] was anointed c. 1040 B.C. as God's representative, subject to the prophet [[Samuel]].  

* [[Israel]] was a theocracy before [[Saul|King Saul]] was anointed c. 1040 B.C. as God's representative, subject to the prophet [[Samuel]].  

* The [[Kingdom of Judah|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]] ([[Fall of Jerusalem|Siege of Jerusalem 587 B.C.]])

* The [[Kingdom of Judah|United Monarchy of Judah and Israel]] under the anointed kings [[King David|David]] and [[Solomon]], and then Judah under the anointed kings in the line of David, from [[Rehoboam]] to [[Zedekiah]] ([[Fall of Jerusalem|Siege of Jerusalem 587 B.C.]])

* [[Plato]]'s ideal [[The Republic (Philosophy)|Republic]] (c. 350 B.C.).

* [[Plato]]'s ideal [[The Republic (Philosophy)|Republic]] (c. 350 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.

* After the [[Maccabee|Maccabean Revolt]], [[Kingdom of Judah|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 Christian Roman Empire after [[Constantine]] (c. A.D. 363).

* The [[Byzantine Empire]] and [[Europe|Christian Europe]] under the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Emperors]], 4th through 15th centuries. [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]] holds that a true emperor is God's anointed representative on earth.

* The [[Byzantine Empire]] and [[Europe|Christian Europe]] under the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Emperors]], 4th through 15th centuries. [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]] holds that a true emperor is God's anointed representative on earth.

* [[Arabia]] and the [[Middle East]] under [[Mohammed]] and [[Islam]]ic [[caliph]]s and [[sultan]]s

* [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]] and the [[Middle East]] under [[Muhammad|Mohammed]] and [[Islam]]ic [[caliph]]s and [[sultan]]s

* The [[Papal States]] under the Catholic popes, from A.D. 754 to 1870.

* The [[Papal States]] under the Catholic [[Pope]]s, from A.D. 754 to 1870.

* The legendary (fictional) kingdom of [[Prester John]] beginning the 12th century.

* The legendary (fictional) kingdom of [[Prester John]] beginning the 12th century.

* The [[Russia]]s under the [[Tsar|Czar]] as [[emperor]], obedient to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] up to the abdication of [[Nicholas II]] (1917).

* The [[Russia]]s under the [[Tsar|Czar]] as [[emperor]], obedient to the [[Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox Church]] up to the abdication of [[Czar Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]] (1917).

* [[Utopia|Utopian]] [[Commune|communities]] founded in the United States and Europe 16th through 20th centuries, by such groups as the [[Anabaptists|Anabaptists beginning as early as 1521]]. See especially [[Socialism#Religion|Religious socialism]].

* [[Utopia|Utopian]] [[Commune|communities]] founded in the United States and Europe 16th through 20th centuries, by such groups as the [[Anabaptists|Anabaptists beginning as early as 1521]]. See especially [[Socialism#Religion|Socialism: Religion]].

* Rule by the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Princes]] in accordance with [http://stpaulserie.org/The%20Smalcald%20Articles%20and%20the%20Treatise.pdf The Smalcald Articles] beginning in 1537, with the systematic eradication of Catholicism as a crime punishable by death throughout their territories.

* Rule by the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Princes]] in accordance with [http://stpaulserie.org/The%20Smalcald%20Articles%20and%20the%20Treatise.pdf The Smalcald Articles] beginning in 1537, with the systematic eradication of Catholicism as a crime punishable by death throughout their territories.

* [[Geneva|Geneva, Switzerland]] during the [http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/14.html Genevan Reform c. 1541-1564 under John Calvin].

* [[Geneva|Geneva, Switzerland]] during the [http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/14.html Genevan Reform c. 1541-1564 under John Calvin].

* The several hundred year old [[Buddhist]] theocracy, established in [[Tibet]] with the assumption of power by the Dalai Lamas in 1642, inaugurating the era of "harmonious blend of religion and politics", and headed by the current [[Dalai Lama]], before [[atheist]] [[Communist China]] invaded in 1950 in order to "liberate" it from religion.

* The several hundred year old [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] theocracy, established in [[Tibet]] with the assumption of power by the Dalai Lamas in 1642, inaugurating the era of "harmonious blend of religion and politics", and headed by the current [[Dalai Lama]], before [[Atheism|atheist]] [[China|Communist China]] invaded in 1950 in order to "liberate" it from religion.

* [[Salt Lake City]] (1847) and [[Utah]] under the prophets and Council of Elders of the [[Mormonism|Latter-day Saints]] in the 19th century in the United States.  

* [[Salt Lake City]] (1847) and [[Utah]] under the prophets and Council of Elders of the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints|Latter-day Saints]] in the 19th century in the United States.  

* Since 1926 the theocratic [http://sabda.sriaurobindoashram.org/catalog/show.php?id=about_saa Sri Aurobindo Ashram] in [[India]].

* Since 1926 the theocratic [http://sabda.sriaurobindoashram.org/catalog/show.php?id=about_saa Sri Aurobindo Ashram] in [[India]].

* 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]] established by the Treaty of the Lateran in 1929 is a theocracy, as it is ruled by the Pope, placed by a divine election.

* The [[Vatican City|Vatican]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] is a formal [[Christianity|Christian]] theocracy, with the [[Pope]] as head of both church and state. By technicality, Vatican City established by the Treaty of the Lateran in 1929 is a theocracy, as it is ruled by the Pope, placed by a divine election.

* The [[Islamic Republic]] of [[Iran]] since December 1979 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 such as the [[Ayatollah]]s within the government, since Iranian law requires [[President]]ial candidates to be approved by the [[Guardian Council]] <ref> 

* The [[Islamic Republic]] of [[Iran]] since December 1979 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 [[Clergy|cleric]]s such as the [[Ayatollah]]s within the government, since Iranian law requires [[President]]ial candidates to be approved by the [[Guardian Council]] <ref> 

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

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 law|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>.

- 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>.

* Only two [[Democracy|democracies]] (or more precisely [[Republic (Politics)|republics]]) reserve places in their legislatures 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, the [[Monarchy|monarch of England]] being also the supreme head of the Church of England since 1559.<ref>[http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/act_of_supremacy2.htm Act of Supremacy]</ref>

* Only two [[Democracy|democracies]] (or more precisely [[Republic (Politics)|republics]]) reserve places in their legislatures 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, the [[Monarchy|monarch of England]] being also the supreme head of the Church of England since 1559.<ref>[http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/act_of_supremacy2.htm Act of Supremacy]</ref>

* [[Atheism]] imposed by the [[Reign of Terror]] in [[France]] in the 18th century, and by the [[Soviet Union]], the [[Peoples Republic of China]] and the Communist governments in [[Southeast Asia]], Africa, [[Cuba]] and [[South America]] in the 20th and 21st centuries. See [[Atheism is a religion]].

* [[Atheism]] imposed by the [[Reign of Terror]] in [[French Revolution|France]] in the 18th century, and by the [[Soviet Union]], the [[China|People's Republic of China]] and the Communist governments in [[Southeast Asia]], Africa, [[Cuba]] and [[South America]] in the 20th and 21st centuries. See [[Atheism is a religion]].

* [[Wahhabism]] or militant extremist Islam imposed on countries and communities controlled by [[Al Qaeda]], the [[Taliban]], and [[ISIS]] since the beginning of the 21st century, in the Middle East and Africa and island nations in the Pacific.

* [[Wahhabi|Wahhabism]] or militant extremist Islam imposed on countries and communities controlled by [[Al Qaeda]], the [[Taliban]], and [[Islamic State|ISIS]] since the beginning of the 21st century, in the Middle East and Africa and island nations in the Pacific.

==Theocracy as tyranny==

==Theocracy as tyranny==