One on one thread about Christian theocracy?

[The Remonstrant]

Is there anybody here who supports the establishment of a Christian theocracy who would like to set up an informal, irenic one-on-one discussion thread in The Arena? I'm not looking for a formal debate per se but would like to explore/discuss the topic more deeply. The topic has popped up a few times in threads lately.

I'm rather Anabaptistic in my view regarding a strict separation between the church and the state. It can be very dangerous when the two are mingled or conflated (as they unfortunately oftentimes are). I'm deeply suspicious of the neo-conservative religious right and their obsession with voting for the right politicians, the right measures. As far as politics are concerned, we cannot neatly or glibly apply the "WWJD?" cliché to suit whatever cause we may or may not like. Jesus pretty much stayed out of politics (perhaps we should take a hint here; I don't know). The political climate in his day was hot, but he refused to be pigeonholed as supporting any particular cause or special interest group outside the kingdom of heaven/God. We may seek to apply Jesus' ethics or way of life to every area of our lives as best as we are able to discern, of course, but believers are provided with no special divine insight as to how we are to handle many of the complexities of life.

[Andius]

I am actually fine with a dominion that espouses Christianity as the official religion. It really is no different from the ones that espouse Islam as the official religion. People really have to get over the fact that Theocracies DO NOT equal intolerance in and of itself.

Theres a crapola of institutional designs that one would have to enter in consideration if such a form of government is created.

What kind of government would it be?
Should it be strictly laity who will take office? Or can the clergy/ecclesiastical leaders also occupy such positions as well?
What will it's policy be towards non-Christian members?

Regardless of the design of the institutions, I for one am actually convinced that it is possible to formulate a Christian dominion where folk of non-Christian creeds can be tolerated and co-exist peacefully within a society. It is not a farfetched thing to say that Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Secularists, etc. can co-exist together to a certain extent. That's why I am no longer convinced that theocracies are necessarily unearebly intolerant (as if secular governments were any more tolerant than religious governments), since a non-muslim can still earn a fairly good living in nations like the United Arab Emirates (naturally, no proselytizing any creed that is not Islamic of course).

[Darth Executor]

I'll discuss it but I'm kinda lazy so I'd rather you set it up and I'll show up and respond.

[seanD]

I could think of a lot of scriptural reasons why I'd be against it. The reoccurring theme throughout the NT is not to be conformed to the world (or how the worldly system operates, being that it's a temporarily malfunctioned system that will eventually be corrected via divine intervention) but to make due in the world, with all it's evil, while we're presently here. I would also wonder how this could possibly be done when there are a myriad number of Christian sects and doctrines, thus a myriad number of ways to interpret spiritual matters, which I could only imagine would spill over into how to run a government based on these spiritual matters. More than likely, it would just lead to a ruthless dictatorship a lot faster than any other system we've seen in history.

[KingsGambit]

Is there anybody here who supports the establishment of a Christian theocracy who would like to set up an informal, irenic one-on-one discussion thread in The Arena? I'm not looking for a formal debate per se but would like to explore/discuss the topic more deeply. The topic has popped up a few times in threads lately.