Dear Toni Lavis,

"As far as I know, there are no Christian theocracies in the world."

There are Christian theocracies. The Vatican is a Christian theocracy with a religious figure as head of government and operating under canon law.

In my opinion any religion should be no business of the government. As long as people abide by law they should have the right to believe any damn fool thing they want to believe in. They can believe that human virgins give birth and other nonsense. Religious freedom includes the right to believe in nonsense.

Hi David,

The Vatican ? That's it ? No other Christian theocracies, in the sense that Iran, Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim countries are theocracies ?

I'm sure there are many nominally-'Christian' countries which, in their founding documents, proclaim that they take their guidance from 'God', meaning a Christian god, and then move on, with not a single law or clause or section or ordinance or whatever which, in any way, bans (or even hinders, let alone penalises) any other religious observances, OR requires anybody to follow any particular religious observances to the exclusion of others. Cf. Saudi Arabia.

In fact, I wouldn't even be surprised if someone who knows better can inform us that the Vatican is, even with the Pope as its Head, actually run on very secular lines, that it has relations with the governments of Rome and Italy along secular lines and that it in no way bans any non-Christians from living or working within the boundaries of the Vatican. But perhaps it draws the line at a mosque within the Vatican's walls.

Joe

The following assertion was made:

"As far as I know, there are no Christian theocracies in the world."

The following statement showed that the second part of the assertion was not valid. Taking it in its entirety it may have been valid since the propounder of the assertion may not have known of the Vatican.

<<There are Christian theocracies. The Vatican is a Christian theocracy with a religious figure as head of government and operating under canon law.>>

Then Loudmouth made the following statement:

<<The Vatican ? That's it ? No other Christian theocracies, in the sense that Iran, Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim countries are theocracies ?>>

Since one example is all that is necessary to show an assertion is invalid and there was no claim that the Vatican was the only Christian theocracy I don't know what Loudmouth is getting excited about

David, one swallow does not make a summer, and if you have to rely on the Vatican, which is hardly a 'state', given that it is so dependent for its water, electricity, etc., etc., on the secular governments of Rome and Italy surrounding it, a 'state' which (as far as I know) doesn't even have UN representation, your sparrow is looking pretty crook.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen Muslim-dominated states proclaim themselves as Islamic Republic/Kingdom/Emirate etc. of Wherever, and enact that proclamation by banning Christian churches, schools, etc., and occasionally whipping or crucifying the odd Christian to gee up the troops. And look where that's got them, in terms of the development of social rights and ideology.

Isn't that so ?

Joe

Dear Joe,

That is so, but it is irrelevant.

I was responding to a statement mentioning Christian theocracies. The presence of Muslim theocracies is irrelevant to that comment.

David,

Who the f cares ?

Joe