Theocracy is ... What is theocracy: definition

The term "theocracy" was first used by the Roman historian of Jewish origin Josephus in the 1st century AD. He used this word in his work “Against Uppion,” where he argued with the famous grammar of that era. Although Flavius ​​was a Roman servant and even took his surname in honor of the emperor, he knew only Greek, in which he wrote his works.

Hence the etymological roots of the term. The first half of the word translates as “god”, the second - “edit”. Thus, we can conclude that theocracy is a form of government in which the supreme ruler has both state and religious authority.

Key Points

Often the ruler receives the status of the governor of God in the territory he controls. But this is not the only definition. Another interpretation of the term implies that the supreme person is God himself.

Theocracy is a way of ancient and then medieval society to explain the universe. In the views of each nation, religion played a large role. It was so important that no power was considered legitimate if it was not given by a god or pantheon of deities in the case of the Gentiles.

Theocracy, clericalism and secularism

The concept of theocracy is closely related to clericalism. This is a political movement within the state that seeks to strengthen the rights and significance of the clergy. By and large, theocracy is the highest measure of clericalism. This term is more often used in the description of precisely modern society as opposed to traditions that existed in antiquity and the Middle Ages. Today, clericalism is carried out not only with the help of religious organizations (for example, churches), but through political instruments - social movements and parties.

Contrary to this current, the opposite phenomenon exists - secularism. According to this concept, the state and religious organizations should exist separately from each other. The principles of secularism are enshrined in the laws and constitutions of many secular states where there is no official religion. One of the most striking and significant examples of translating this concept into practice took place immediately after the 1917 revolution, when the Bolsheviks who came to power deprived the church of property and separated it from the bureaucracy. The founder of the idea of ​​secularism is Epicurus, who in his philosophical denunciations argued with the worshipers of the cult of the ancient Greek gods.

Examples of theocracy

The state of the Jews was called the first theocracy when Josephus introduced the term to describe the power of his people. However, chronologically, monarchies with religious rule existed before. So was the Egyptian kingdom, where the title of Pharaoh meant the vicariousness of God on earth. A similar principle can be found in the Roman Empire, where emperors were recognized as gods. Most of them are countries of the monarchy. The list can be continued with Islamic caliphs, who were also considered the heads of all Sunni Muslims.

Islamic theocracy

Among the rest, Muslim theocracy is notable for its special attention to the fulfillment of divine laws. The Sharia rules enshrined in the Qur'an are binding on everyone. Previously, such states were called caliphates. The first of them was founded by the prophet Muhammad in the VII century. After which his successors extended the power of Islam in the Middle East, northern Africa and even Spain.

However, a lot of time has passed since then. Nevertheless, for example, in Iran and Saudi Arabia, all courts are still based on the laws of the Koran. Persians are Shiites, and their religious leader has more rights than the president. For example, he appoints many influential ministers, including those responsible for the defense of the state.

In Saudi Arabia, the political form of government is the successor to the caliphate. The monarch has absolute power, and for violation of Sharia law, a person may face the death penalty.

Buddhists

Specialists often argue about what theocracy is. The definition has many interpretations. One of them is reflected in Buddhists. An example is the Central Tibetan Organization, which largely copies the features of the previous state of Tibetan monks. Since the mid-20th century, his administration has been in exile after the invasion of the Chinese People’s Army.

However, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, has great authority among his flock scattered throughout the world. People consider him to be the embodiment of God on earth, which makes this system related to Islamic and some others.

About the city of God

Christian tradition laid the foundations of theocracy in the treatise "On the City of God." It was written in the 5th century. the theologian Aurelius Augustine. And although he does not use the term in his work, he describes the same principle by his own example. According to him, theocracy is the city of God, where all life is arranged according to the law of the Covenant.

Its inhabitants do not violate the commandments and live in harmony. In parallel with this, there is also the city of Earth. He is the opposite of God's reflection. The laws inside it are determined by the people themselves, who, in a fit of pride, decided that they could not live according to the Christian tradition. In other words, they denied God. According to Augustine, depending on the choice of hail, a person after death will be judged in the Last Judgment. All who renounce heavenly laws go to hell, while those who choose the city of God go to heaven.

The work was written shortly after Rome was captured and plundered by the Goths, which strengthened the author's fatalistic mood. There Aurelius Augustine discusses secular power. It is given by God, which means that people must obey it. This principle will be used by the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire a few centuries later.

Vatican

Modern Christian theocracy is the Vatican. It is the smallest state in the world. It is independent and governed by the Pope, who is considered the spiritual father of all Catholics.

Until 1929, the Papal Region was in its place, which in its best years in the 19th century occupied half of modern Italy. This is a classic theocracy. Power is considered given from God. Sovereignty over the Vatican is determined by the Holy See, which the Pope possesses. In addition, he is also the head of the Catholic Church.

Power over it is not just legal, but complete and independent of anyone's will. The Pope is elected for life by the conclave, the assembly of the main church cardinals. The selection procedure has been fixed since the 13th century.

History of the Papacy

This is a type of ancient form of government. A table describing the periodization of the history of the Papacy may include many stages. At first it was the heads of closed communities, when Christians were persecuted by the Romans and worshiped their god, while in deep underground. And only in the 4th century did Emperor Constantine recognize religion, and the Pope gained influence. However, then it spread only to the flock. But with the fall of secular power in Europe, the institution of pontiffs gained tremendous importance, as it was the only legitimate Christian title at that time. The influence of the papacy extended to all Western European countries of the monarchy. The list of kings, which were considered a step below the pontiff, was long - it included a dozen names.

These were peculiar forms of government. Royal titles were considered junior compared to the papal. European rulers obeyed and listened to the Holy Father, especially in the event of conflicts with each other. Popes spread the influence of the entire Church to pagan territories, calling on their kings to the Crusades, the most famous of which ended with the return of Jerusalem.

The struggle for investiture and the Reformation

The current state of affairs in Christianity exists not so long ago. Prior to this, the authority of the Popes was disputed by numerous religious movements and even secular rulers. Here we are talking primarily about the struggle for investiture in the XI - XII centuries.

The problem concerned the then form of government. The table of medieval society can describe us several classes: peasants, merchants, feudal lords. The latter also had their own ladder, at the top of which was the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (covering mainly the territory of modern Germany). However, in parallel there was a clergy who acted on behalf of God. Its head was the Pope. The political power of the latter extended to almost all of fragmented Italy.

The dispute between the two classes of society and two titles for the right to be dominant lasted several decades. In fact, it was a debate about whether the state will be secular or theocratic.

In the end, the Catholic clergy defeated the imperial power, but his supremacy did not last so long. With the beginning of the Renaissance and the development of science in Christianity, a movement of Protestants appeared, denying the leadership of the Pope and the theocratic idea of ​​Europe (the Reformation movement). After a thirty-year war, they covered half the continent. Then theocracy lost the chance to become the basis of power in Europe.

Theocracy in Russia

When our country was a monarchy, a prince or king was considered the viceroy of God (anointed). At the same time, the title of patriarch existed, which was later replaced by a synod subordinate to the authorities. Thus, the Russian ruler, although not directly, controlled the Church.

In the 19th century, the existing political form of government was criticized by many thinkers and writers. For example, the Church was criticized by Leo Tolstoy, for which he was even excommunicated from the flock. But the philosopher Vladimir Solovyov proposed combining Catholic and Orthodox institutions. This would mean the emergence of a worldwide Christian theocracy. She would have united the two largest flocks in the world, split since 1054.

With the advent of Soviet power, the secularization and exclusion of the Church from the state took place. The modern Russian Federation is a secular state where freedom of religion exists, and no religious organization has an exclusive status.