In the Bible, Samuel is described as both a judge and a priest, implying that in Israel, politics and religioe

Question

....inseparable. Why was that? Do you see issues of poverty,injustice,and corruption as being primarialy political or religious????

Answer 1

The Tanakh (OT) is a story about the relationship between God and His people, Israel. We learn ethics and morals from those stories. We learn that our leaders must be chosen from those most capable rather than being inherited by the 1st son. We learn that our leaders must be held accountable for the sins just that same as the lowly commoner. We learn that the lowly commoner must have the same human rights as the king (or other leader). Call it political or whatever you wish, but those laws taught the Israelites to stay separate and apart from other cultures that practiced child sacrifice and enslaved the general populace to prepare for the pharoah's journey into the afterlife.

There was no "religion" in Biblical days -- only Life!
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Answer 2

At the time, Israel's political and religious laws were the same. In fact, when Samuel was first around, Israel didn't even have a king. God was her king. Israel went against God and asked for an earthly king --- and that's when things started to go downhill, really. It's certainly not feasible to have that kind of government anywhere in the world right now, I don't think.

In terms of what poverty, injustice and corruption stem from --- it is true that they come from both the sin of man and the fallen world --- AND that they can only be changed by changing people's hearts. But it isn't feasible or advisable to even think about instituting a theocracy. Israel was a unique situation --- they had been led out of Egypt by a PILLAR OF FIRE, ya know? They were all related and were all God's chosen people. In a secular country, issues like poverty still flow *out* of the sinfulness of man's heart --- but we cannot legislate people who do no agree with Biblical law by Biblical law.

Answer 3

Israel was ruled by God. Israel was a theocracy. Poverty, injustice and corruption are both political and religious. If politicians fail to address these issues, religious leaders should rise up and make their voices heard!

Answer 4

Samuel's primary role was a prophet. He was not a descendant of Aaron so he was not a priest.

As is the case, a priest, according to Jewish law, is allowed to be a judge as well. But my question is: Why is the role of judge considered to be political? We do not even have that in today's time. Are judges elected to their positions by the electorate? The only political aspect of it is that they may be appointed politically. But their primary role is judicial, not political.

(And as an aside, a king in Jewish religious law is not allowed to become a judge nor a priest.)

Answer 5

See Israel was a theocracy, Under the "Law of Moses" ,,,politics not included

Answer 6

take a college history course on world civilizations. you'll find there are 3 ruling classes: the priests, the administrative class, and the warrior class.

they all worked together to get very rich and secure labor from the masses.

Answer 7

I think the Church as failed to unite in every district in this country and send a delegate to represent us that believes the way we do. And thats one of the things that has led this country down the moral path its own.

Answer 8

Religion IS the government for them. The tithe was to pay the government and the religion. It was one and the same until they were taken into captivity time and time again.

Answer 9

They are both..poor people are usually caught in the middle...Religion and politics have always lived side by side.....look at the middle East...

Answer 10

Israel of old was a theocracy.
Religion and politics can mix, if God directs.