Theocracy in America?

Question

I see this theocracy fear posed by alot of nonchristians and was wondering what it is based on.
We managed to have school sponsered prayer for many years, people arrested for homosexual acts, abortion banned and never did we become a theocracy. Now we have legal and unlimited abortions, gay marriage will one day soon be an American reality, we have dropped school sponsored prayer, governments, schools, and even the secular establishment have abolished the words Merry Christmas and have replaced them with more benign, less specific references (winterfest, holiday season, etc) A ton of politicians espouse "god" and as long as God is watered down and not too much in the public square its "ok" otherwise some Christians are made to look like hatemongers for having opposing opinions. My question is where is the fear that there is going to be a takeover by the Christian right and a formed theocracy? Is it not clear that Christianity in its true form is just not that popular anymore?

Answer 1

You are so right (no pun intended), Lucid Freedom (nice username, btw). It is one of two ingenious propaganda sound bites that is revived by the secular left activists anytime a conservative president is being elected to office. The other is "the separation of church and state", which really means to them the separation of religious morals and the state. Yes, despite all this leftist hyperbole, we've never had a theocracy (which could only occur if one religious, most likely Christian, denomination took over our tripartite system of government). As you have said, this has never occurred in American history, and the overwhelming majority of American Christians would consider it un-American, and quite an anathema. Why? Because our forefathers fought and died against western European church-run monarchists so that democracy could have its day. Yes, they were all theocratic (one legal religion), of sorts. But, with democracy, our forefathers (even Jefferson) saw the essentiality of maintaining a Judeo-Christian ethical influence on public policy and government. Believe you me, they would be turning over in their graves if they knew about this continuing and predominant trend towards secularization. Plus, given that human autonomy in the American culture is so much more valued today than even an homogenous community ethic, let alone a divine one, theocracy could never occur, at least in this new century. I believe it would take just that in America, a century, to achieve such a goal anyway. But first, and most improbably, the sociocultural tide would have to make a quick turn in the opposite direction for this to occur. On the contrary, it is still headed in the direction of extreme individualism, at the unfortunate expense of community and divine ethics; and quite rapidly I might add! This is quite similar to the last century of the Roman Empire's sociocultural implosion. If we don't learn from history, we will definitely repeat it!

Now, just look at what this sound bite successfully accomplishes with just some of the answers that are already given here. It accomplishes just what they accuse those who hold to a Judeo-Christian ethic of! Can you say "projection"? 1) A strongly implied, and very spurious, secular and revisionist American history. 2) A paranoid mindset (i.e., Bush stole the last two elections; oh, please!) that is meant to create a myopic and very defensive vision of secularization, while they unknowingly support the very unconscionable actions that they believe they are avoiding sociopolitically (i.e., "hate crimes" and ENDA legislation that would affectively take away and silence the freedom of speech for those with contrary moral values)! Btw, these are the seeds of fascism, let alone liberty, and ironically from the secular left!

Answer 2

Not it isn't clear - the last two Presidential elections were decided by the Religious Right - and in any event, it's not always the statistical probability that frightens, so much as the size of the catastrophe if a certain event occurs. You do not seem to understand how frightening Xianity is to the rest of us - its followers are typically found among the least educated, least rational, and most dogmatic citizens. We have encouraged "diversity" for so long in this country, yet history has shown that the Xians would subject the rest of us to their edicts without a second thought. This is not just about their famed intolerance, either. Most of their doctrines evolved in a time when the Church was striving for equal status with the monarchs of Europe - doctrines that keep the people down while directing money and power into the hands of clerics. It's a bloodstained, stupid tradition that non-Xians rightly fear.

Answer 3

True "theocracy" is an impossibility. "God" simply won't cooperate. What passes for "theocracy" is actually dictatorship by religious leaders who claim to speak for God. And no matter how sincerely they start out, they are ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of democratic dialog. It is this propensity to streamline government that has people nervous, whether "God" is invoked or not.

Yes, politicians pander insincerely for votes, but many religious leaders also pander. There are two ways. Some water down doctrine into meaningless pap to avoid offending donors. Others take the opposite approach, whipping up the zeal of their flocks out of all proportion to the purposes of the doctrine. Either way, the effect is to produce a commitment in the members that they have to justify to themselves, usually by further commitment. And suddenly it's no longer about principle but about conformity. "God" turns into whatever issue will create the most effective tyranny.

The theological excuses are not as important as the methods of indoctrination. Emotional appeals to fear wipe out reason and caution, playing into the hands of the would-be theocrats. The more a "Christian" imagines he is being "persecuted", the more radical the action he is willing to do, without question, for his leaders. "True" Christianity becomes whatever they tell him it is because, after all, there's a "war" going on. The issues become more trivial and meaningless (school prayer, "stealing" Christmas) to keep the faithful from facing the serious issues such as poverty, hunger and social exploitation. Never mind that the government has become an organ of commerce with the power to spy into every corner of our lives, there are gays trying to ruin marriage!

Jesus never said a word about abortion, not a word about homosexuality. He advised people to pray at home, not in public. He told his followers to love and do good to their enemies, to turn the other cheek, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the imprisoned. But what Christianity preaches turns virtually everything Jesus said upside down. That's what we mean by fear of theocracy. It's not the content but the mindset. Clearly, there is a danger, as long as people continue to believe it's about "Jesus" and don't recognize what is really happening.

Answer 4

It's good to be moving towards a secular society and I think that's what you're saying in your question. The references to a theocracy are used by those pesky hard-line atheists (you know the ones I mean), but they are a legitimate opposing argument because there are those amongst the Christians who would prefer religion to have more influence in this country.

Answer 5

It comes from the fact that we have a group of powerful Christo-fascists trying to establish a theocracy in this country and they may have control of the Supreme Court. Anyone who isn't paying attention better wake up before it's too late. This same group has sworn to "drive the Pagans out of America" so forgive me if I'm a little touchy about that. My family was here before these white people came and took over, and I'm not leaving.

They're a lot closer to succeeding than you think - there's a strong evangelical Christo-fascist movement in the military, plus they have a private army in Blackwater.

Bush has made it easier to declare martial law and given himself authority to use troops against American citizens for the first time since the passage of the Posse Comitatus Act.
He thinks 'god' told him to kill Sadam Hussein and he consults with religious groups to make sure his Israel and Middle East policies are consistent with the prophecies about Armageddon.

His buddy Musharref (Sp?) just did the same thing in his country that Bush dreams of doing here. Anyone who would conspire to steal two American presidential elections is capable of anything.

Answer 6

Christianity is not popular anymore, because of all of the prostilization, and dissension of/within/from the Church/Christian entities who have associated themselves with any government for their own ends.

They have further more set for themselves a path that will weed out any Non-Christian so as to have a solid Christian foundation/Country. They go as far as coming door to door to spread their lies, yet we can do nothing to keep this from happening, however if we try to invoke our right to peaceably assemble thy fight tooth and nail, to keep us from assembling, what example does this set for our children and our nation as a whole. How would they like if if we did so to them, tough we never would, because we respect their right to choose their own path.

Goddess Bless.
Blessed Be.

Answer 7

I have very little fear that America will become a theocracy. However, one political party panders to the religious right a LOT. So I'm perfectly willing to point out that it annoys me.

Answer 8

Neither here nor there, but what if Native Americans had kept their continent and all those folks that came from Europe "in pursuit of religious freedom" hadn't brought all of the hulabaloo with them. Just saying "if." What would it be like?

I know that you were looking for an intelligent answer--sorry. I'm tired, I should go to bed.

Answer 9

as long as the possibility exists that one person might actually pray out loud somewhere, anywhere...that someone will step forward and say 'i believe', that someone will open a bible in public, that someone will openly acknowledge God, there will be those who will scream 'theocracy'...'shoving religion down our throats'...'ignorant fundies'...Christ said that it would be that way, so don't worry, trust in Him...

Answer 10

You have some good points. I think most Christians would be happy if we just followed the Constitution.