How does theocracy work?

Answer 1

(from Greek. the·os′, god, and kra′tos, a rule), a rule by God.

Essentially, there is a blurring, or possibly no distinction between social/political life and theology/religion. Whatever the external form of government, in a true theocracy you will probably have clerics or theologians making final pronouncements concerning the legitimacy of laws and legal cases/appeals. There is no appeal beyond religion. One segment of the population accumulates all of the power. Representative government, and the idea of the will of the people, become things of the past, even if they are given nominal or disingenuous consideration. Utterly no aspect of life is considered outside of the reach of a theocracy's authority, since the deity behind the theocracy is presumed to be the creator, and he created YOU.

These ideas should send shivers down the spines of people who might be entertaining the idea that a Christian Republic would be wonderful. It is not religion, faith, Christ, Allah or religious devotion that is the problem. It is the concentration of power, beyond the influence of those governed, that is the problem. And it is a BIG problem. A strong civil government that is religion-neutral and religion-tolerant (as long as NO religion is allowed to violate the civil law) is the best solution. No civil government is or can possibly be perfect. But some are workably flexible, open and religion-neutral. No ideology, no faith, no special interest group should be allowed to accumulate all of the power. That serves no one and hurts everyone. Of course, it 'serves' the handful of people who manage to get to the top.