Theocracy? by Owen Borville September 18, 2024 Politics, Religion
The United States and the western nations of America, Eurasia, and the world claim to democratic or republic nations with values of free speech, religion, and equal opportunity.
However, most of these nations have had a religious history, particularly Christian history, where Christian and Biblical values were stressed much more strongly as a method of power and control.
Today, the U.S. and the western nations pride themselves as beacons of freedom and democracy. However, it was not always like this in history.
In addition, the U.S. political leaders and leaders of western nations commonly critique nations that they perceive are not democratic and free, commonly using code word names like "authoritarian," "socialist," "communist," "theocracy," and "dictatorship."
The western nations commonly critique non-western nations for having laws that are different than their own, while the western nations have their own laws.
There are many laws in western nations, taxes are required to be paid by citizens, and those who do not obey the law are penalized, fined, arrested, and even jailed. In some cases, even executed.
The U.S. government once banned alcohol for recreational use in 1920 and kept this ban for 13 years, until it was reversed in 1933. The primary reason for prohibition of alcohol was negative social effects on the general population, crime, corruption, health, bad behavior, and family issues.
In a nation with such a strong Biblical tradition, it is not hard to argue that the reasons for prohibition in the USA were religious. Was the U.S. trying to be a theocracy? Or was it just trying to discourage a behavior that causes many social problems.
However, when countries today ban alcohol for the same reasons, U.S. leaders critique these nations and refer to them with the same code words mentioned: authoritarian, socialist, communist, theocracy, and dictatorship.
So the hypocricy is apparent.
U.S. and western leaders also critique nations with modest clothing requirements for women in particular but also for men. However, in the U.S. less than 100 years ago women once covered most of their body wearing Victorian style clothing. Pre-Victorian era clothing for women was even more modest and conservative.
In the ancient Middle East, Asia, and most of the Old World, women wore veils over their head and covered most of their body. This body covering for women was common from the beginning of history and for thousands of years of history, and it is still practiced in many parts of the world today.
Not only Islamic women, but also Catholic Christian women, Orthodox Christian women of Eastern Europe, Orthodox Jewish women wore head coverings and veils and many still do.
Amish women, Mormon women, and Sikh women are known to wear head coverings and body coverings.
In the Bible (1 Corinthians 11:2-16), the Apostle Paul explains how women should cover their hair when they pray in a house of worship or in their homes.
The truth is that head coverings and veils were common tradition in the old world of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Even the men commonly covered their arms, legs, and most of their body with long robes, or long sleeves and pants.
Many Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu men also wear head coverings as part of religion or cultural tradition.
There are many reasons for men and women to cover their head and body, and one of the main reasons is because of modesty. In particular, in public among people who are not related, religion and cultural tradition has established that most adult people should cover most of their body.
A study of history will reveal that most or all people and in particular women of the ancient world covered most of their body, and there was good reason to do so.
There are other reasons for covering of the head or body, such as extreme heat, extreme cold, or for safety reasons.
Therefore, we should not judge the cultural and religious tradition of other cultures and impose western values on cultures that are clearly not western.
It is really hypocritical for western nations to impose their "recent" cultural traditions on other nations around the world who have had different cultures for thousands of years. Often western nations label non-western nations that do not conform to western values as "evil," which is clearly ridiculous.
Western nations have many social problems that are caused at least in part because of western culture. High divorce rate, drug and alcohol use, crime, poverty, and poor work ethic. Perhaps instead of criticizing these nations and imposing western values on non-western nations, western nations should learn from these non-western nations.
Often nations that promote sin or allow the promotion of sinful activities have many social problems that are difficult to solve. There is a difference between allowing and promoting sinful behavior.
Therefore when the western media, entertainment, and music industries constantly promote sin, are we surprised at the result?
Capitalism allows for the promotion of sinful behavior that in turn, causes many social problems. A quick dollar from the capitalists causes much social harm to the general public.
We as a society and culture must decide what is more important? Economic capitalism and social degradation?
Wouldn't it be better to limit the promotion of sinful behavior to help promote a safe and healthy society?
The United States and the western nations of America, Eurasia, and the world claim to democratic or republic nations with values of free speech, religion, and equal opportunity.
However, most of these nations have had a religious history, particularly Christian history, where Christian and Biblical values were stressed much more strongly as a method of power and control.
Today, the U.S. and the western nations pride themselves as beacons of freedom and democracy. However, it was not always like this in history.
In addition, the U.S. political leaders and leaders of western nations commonly critique nations that they perceive are not democratic and free, commonly using code word names like "authoritarian," "socialist," "communist," "theocracy," and "dictatorship."
The western nations commonly critique non-western nations for having laws that are different than their own, while the western nations have their own laws.
There are many laws in western nations, taxes are required to be paid by citizens, and those who do not obey the law are penalized, fined, arrested, and even jailed. In some cases, even executed.
The U.S. government once banned alcohol for recreational use in 1920 and kept this ban for 13 years, until it was reversed in 1933. The primary reason for prohibition of alcohol was negative social effects on the general population, crime, corruption, health, bad behavior, and family issues.
In a nation with such a strong Biblical tradition, it is not hard to argue that the reasons for prohibition in the USA were religious. Was the U.S. trying to be a theocracy? Or was it just trying to discourage a behavior that causes many social problems.
However, when countries today ban alcohol for the same reasons, U.S. leaders critique these nations and refer to them with the same code words mentioned: authoritarian, socialist, communist, theocracy, and dictatorship.
So the hypocricy is apparent.
U.S. and western leaders also critique nations with modest clothing requirements for women in particular but also for men. However, in the U.S. less than 100 years ago women once covered most of their body wearing Victorian style clothing. Pre-Victorian era clothing for women was even more modest and conservative.
In the ancient Middle East, Asia, and most of the Old World, women wore veils over their head and covered most of their body. This body covering for women was common from the beginning of history and for thousands of years of history, and it is still practiced in many parts of the world today.
Not only Islamic women, but also Catholic Christian women, Orthodox Christian women of Eastern Europe, Orthodox Jewish women wore head coverings and veils and many still do.
Amish women, Mormon women, and Sikh women are known to wear head coverings and body coverings.
In the Bible (1 Corinthians 11:2-16), the Apostle Paul explains how women should cover their hair when they pray in a house of worship or in their homes.
The truth is that head coverings and veils were common tradition in the old world of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Even the men commonly covered their arms, legs, and most of their body with long robes, or long sleeves and pants.
Many Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu men also wear head coverings as part of religion or cultural tradition.
There are many reasons for men and women to cover their head and body, and one of the main reasons is because of modesty. In particular, in public among people who are not related, religion and cultural tradition has established that most adult people should cover most of their body.
A study of history will reveal that most or all people and in particular women of the ancient world covered most of their body, and there was good reason to do so.
There are other reasons for covering of the head or body, such as extreme heat, extreme cold, or for safety reasons.
Therefore, we should not judge the cultural and religious tradition of other cultures and impose western values on cultures that are clearly not western.
It is really hypocritical for western nations to impose their "recent" cultural traditions on other nations around the world who have had different cultures for thousands of years. Often western nations label non-western nations that do not conform to western values as "evil," which is clearly ridiculous.
Western nations have many social problems that are caused at least in part because of western culture. High divorce rate, drug and alcohol use, crime, poverty, and poor work ethic. Perhaps instead of criticizing these nations and imposing western values on non-western nations, western nations should learn from these non-western nations.
Often nations that promote sin or allow the promotion of sinful activities have many social problems that are difficult to solve. There is a difference between allowing and promoting sinful behavior.
Therefore when the western media, entertainment, and music industries constantly promote sin, are we surprised at the result?
Capitalism allows for the promotion of sinful behavior that in turn, causes many social problems. A quick dollar from the capitalists causes much social harm to the general public.
We as a society and culture must decide what is more important? Economic capitalism and social degradation?
Wouldn't it be better to limit the promotion of sinful behavior to help promote a safe and healthy society?