4 ms·
Well, it might be that it is effectively a theocracy because a church with a strongly enforced normative code of "morality" controls access to political levers
by 1propionyl 7y ago
Well, it might be that it is effectively a theocracy because a church with a strongly enforced normative code of "morality" controls access to political levers (practically requiring membership for anyone who wants to effect political change of any kind), and that church exerts a 10-15% tax on its members?
Which it then uses (in parallel to the "official" state government) to invest in projects and consolidate its own economic and political power?
Just spitballing though. It's certainly not as bad as Russia or China, but it's not an entirely unfounded inclusion on that list.
- colejohnson66 7y agoThe LDS church (Mormons) are much more accepting of LGBTQ+ members than other Christian sects from what I’ve seen. And that “tax” is called a tithe. And it’s optional.
- knicholes 7y agoIt's only optional if you don't want to go inside the temples and don't mind being burned during the Second Coming.
- pseudalopex 7y agoThe LDS church downgraded same sex marriage from apostasy to a serious transgression this year.[1] The Episcopal church ordained an openly gay bishop in 2003.[2] [1] https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-messages-general-conference-leadership-session-april-2019 https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presi... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Robinson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Robinson
- colejohnson66 7y agoI didn’t say it was the best. I said it’s better than a lot of other churches.
- pseudalopex 7y agoYou said it's much better than others. Not that it's better than a lot of others. I think neither is true by American standards. Not even the Catholic church withheld baptism from the children of same sex parents.