Divine Rule Quotes
At the time the Dutch Reformed Church was the official state religion of the Netherlands.
Joseph ben Matthias. The term was coined by Josephus to refer to the fundamentalist, orthodox Jewish view of a proper state, as opposed to a secular government. The Jewish fundamentalist dream of a theocracy came down through modern times. There were ultra-orthodox Jewish groups who opposed the creation of the State of Israel on the grounds that it is not a theocracy and there are some who still want to see Israel transformed. The term became generalized and is applied to any state where the religion is the state and religious leaders dominate and control the state. The ultra orthodox Muslims, as in Iran, are generally the only religious group who have created theocracies or semi-theocracies as Islamic states. See {638106} for the context in which the term was first used.
The lightening referred to as Franklin’s famous electrical experiments whereby he saved millions of lives by inventing the lightening rod which he gave freely to all and did not try to patent it. For the French, he was by far, the greatest of the Americans.
He was stating for France what the English King James I had said a few decades earlier. See {616307}.
Joseph ben Matthias. There a different kinds of theocracy, There can be a Pope, a King, or a Supreme Leader who acts as the chief magistrate using a religious tract as the law of the land. The Ancient Jews had a Republican Theocracy were the leaders were chosen by the people but they did not promulgate any laws. The Torah—the first 5 books of the Old Testament—was the law of the land. In comparison. 21st century Iran recognized the Koran as the source of Laws. However, their chief magistrate was a cleric—the supreme leader who is not elected but appointed by a few other clerics. None of the other Iranian leaders are chosen by the people because all candidates must be approved by the Supreme Leader in order to even stand for election. So the ancient Jews had a republican theocracy, while Iran was an autocratic theocracy.
The political control technique of establishing a religion where by God himself ordains the ruler was not unique to the Christians and Muslims. The technique was also used in the Inca Empire of Peru. The first Inca who came up with this creative theocratic concept did so in about 1200.
Odo of Chatillon-Sur-Marne. Note that the “Divine Right” of monarchy has become a “Devine Command.” Also, that a king was educated (See {591629}) was totally unusual for the times.
