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?

Jim, my question is does it logically follow that there is a good possibility of a theocracy happeneing?

{{last ent wife}} good idea, you recognized it. I dont normally recycle, but felt this was an important one.

Rhem, I know you have to mine back at least 450 years to get any type of theocracy history. I am not pro theocracy at all! I love my Constitution.

What I do not understand is this major concern. I cannot see it potentially happening with the reasons Ive stated above.

Oovey, I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. If you rephrase, I dont mind responding.

Ha Ha Tom! Thanks for the answer again :-) It was the best answer Ive ever had to this. I cant give you best again on this one, but I really enjoyed seeing your well thought out response again!

Answer 1

Fear of a theocracy comes from over exaggerating religions influence on America. .We would have to change the Constitution of the United States to become a theocracy. Which is theoretically possible, since we can amend the Constitution. But changing the constitution to the point when we become a theocracy is beyond highly unlikely. It`s also a blatant disregard of the fact that we are a nation of immigrants. There are many religions in the United States does it seem plausible that we would become a theocracy under one. People seem to have forgotten the first amendment which addresses the freedom of religion. It also prohibits Congressional establishment of a religion over another religion through Law and protecting the right to free exercise of religion. I think people are over exaggerating for propaganda purposes or they don`t know what their talking about.

Answer 2

I think the fear comes from the fact that the Religious Right has been influential enough to swing the last two presidential elections, and look at what the impact of that has been for the country. I don't think anyone but a few paranoids are TRULY afraid that America is going to turn into a real theocracy. But it's the catering to the interests of the theocrats by too many politicians that bothers a lot of us.

Peace to you.

Answer 3

Thanks for "recycling" the Q, Lucid freedom. I thought that I'd do the same with my answer to you a month ago!

"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 4

The framers of our constitution were very adamant that the government sponsor NO religion.

Unfortunately right now there is INDEED a fight for our country.

You wrote: "My question is where is the fear that there is going to be a takeover by the Christian right and a formed theocracy?"

The sponsored foundations of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson, over the past 30 years, have spent a combined 100 billion dollars JUST to do that. Precinct by precinct they ARE doing this!

And their perversion and corruption of what YOU stated as "Christianity in its true form" IS gaining TOO much power and it is frightening.

Answer 5

The way the Dominionists (like Ron Paul) plan on ushering in a theocracy is to severely underfund or do away with the Department of Education. This allows for the churches, who already have the infrastructure in place, to raise up a generation of Christian fundamentalist schooled youth so then they can vote in their theocracy. It's all laid out in RJ Rushdoony's works called "Institutes of Biblical Law."

Answer 6

Like Knight strikes, I actual have a lot of family contributors in Alabama. My mom's previous living house remains interior the family contributors, and it quite is extensive and so overgrown now i will take my family contributors so far lower back interior the pines that i can in basic terms secede from The Union and who will parent it out until eventually i'm lifeless and buried? i do no longer agree that it quite is a trully Christian usa. i've got self assurance it quite is a banner waved by skill of rabid conservatives to dupe some into giving up their American rights. I evaluate myself a conservative guy or woman, yet my fee tag is often split. Republican or Democrat has ceased to point a lot of something on the place a flesh presser stands. i be responsive to if i'm no longer prepared to take care of others rights, there'll quickly be none left to take care of mine.

Answer 7

The founding fathers who were mostly christian banned theocracy in the constitution so the basis is from them!!!

Your question amply demonstrated that it is because it is so biased, hate filled and uneducated.

Why do people like you run so scared of atheists? They just do not believe in a god - any god not just yours!! But people like you seem to think it means unchristian.

The unchristian thing here is questions like yours that heap further ridicule on Christianity.

What rank do you hold in the Antichrist army?!!!!

Answer 8

The Christian concept of "I am the alpha and the omega" seems to be too self-concious for this new-age, Oprah-inspired stream of thought that espouses 'self-improvement' as opposed to "I'm not worthy to receive the light of Christ" crap.

American foreign policy is based on "What would Jesus do?"
American popular culture asks "What would Oprah do?"

That's the issue I think you're touching upon. Faith VS self-determination. Destiny VS empowerment.

Answer 9

good question.

Answer is there is little fear regarding a Christian right theocracy. This is because true Christianity is not existent. Like your comment regarding Merry Christmas, true Christians would not associate Jesus with Christmas which this holiday has origins from pagan beliefs. You have no fear in such a movement regarding mainstream Christianity. They do not have Gods blessings, they will fail. However there are true Christians, that truly uphold the bibles values and standards. Their belief is waiting on God.

Like in the days of Noah, we have very similar society parallels. At some point history will repeat itself.

Answer 10

Gee, do you think it just might have something to do with the fact that, in direct violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 372 morons in the House of Representatives just saw fit to enact House Resolution 847: “Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith"?