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He should move to a theocracy and see how it works. There are plenty to choose from, even if most are Islamic. Theocracies become dictatorships (or at least oli

He should move to a theocracy and see how it works. There are plenty to choose from, even if most are Islamic. Theocracies become dictatorships (or at least oligarchies), using government power to suppress anything the rulers don't like. Of course, Barton figures he'll be one of the rulers...

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reaperman 3y ago
Vatican City is a contemporary christian theocracy but I’m not sure they have housing available for immigrants.
- api 3y ago
  So they actually have absolute authority? Like if they decided they wanted to execute someone for being gay or a heretic could they? (Not that the contemporary Catholic Church advocates or would do that. I’m asking a legal question.)
  - reaperman 3y ago
    I’m really not sure. Wikipedia lists them as a “Unitary theocratic Catholic elective absolute monarchy” and says “ It became independent from Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, and it is a distinct territory under ‘full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction’ of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law.”
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OfSanguineFire 3y ago
Several European countries have established churches, and in some of them that established church does have a special voice in lobbying, or it gets a seat in parliament, etc. That hasn’t stopped those countries from being regarded as functioning democracies. So, a knee-jerk reaction that this is a direct road to theocracy and dictatorship is a bit much. What is problematic in the US context is that the majority of the population doesn’t so neatly subscribe to a single faith, not even historically. The US has always been a mix of, first, the “mainline” Christian denominations, then since the early 19th century a mess of neo-Protestant sects, and finally every world religion. So, I think would have to underscore that it is this particular environment that trying to establish any religion as advantaged would require some authoritarian steps.
- krapp 3y ago
  The separate Christian sects aren't separate religions, it would be sufficient to simply declare "Christian" as the American state religion. Although, if one had to pick, Evangelicals would clearly win, due to their existing political power.

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reaperman 3y ago

Vatican City is a contemporary christian theocracy but I’m not sure they have housing available for immigrants.

api 3y ago
So they actually have absolute authority? Like if they decided they wanted to execute someone for being gay or a heretic could they? (Not that the contemporary Catholic Church advocates or would do that. I’m asking a legal question.)
- reaperman 3y ago
  I’m really not sure. Wikipedia lists them as a “Unitary theocratic Catholic elective absolute monarchy” and says “ It became independent from Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, and it is a distinct territory under ‘full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction’ of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law.”

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OfSanguineFire 3y ago

Several European countries have established churches, and in some of them that established church does have a special voice in lobbying, or it gets a seat in parliament, etc. That hasn’t stopped those countries from being regarded as functioning democracies. So, a knee-jerk reaction that this is a direct road to theocracy and dictatorship is a bit much. What is problematic in the US context is that the majority of the population doesn’t so neatly subscribe to a single faith, not even historically. The US has always been a mix of, first, the “mainline” Christian denominations, then since the early 19th century a mess of neo-Protestant sects, and finally every world religion. So, I think would have to underscore that it is this particular environment that trying to establish any religion as advantaged would require some authoritarian steps.

krapp 3y ago
The separate Christian sects aren't separate religions, it would be sufficient to simply declare "Christian" as the American state religion. Although, if one had to pick, Evangelicals would clearly win, due to their existing political power.