Zone1 Huh, so what do you make of the Pope's statement?

[ding]

Let me stop you right there Ding, read this>>>>

Theocracies are systems of government where religious leaders or divine figures hold supreme authority, deriving power from religious dogma. Historically, they range from divine monarchs in ancient Egypt and Japan to clerical rules like Calvin’s Geneva or modern Iran. They function by equating religious law with civil law.
View attachment 1248478Wikipedia +5
Historical Examples of Theocracies:

• Ancient Egypt: Pharaohs were considered divine mediators or gods themselves (e.g., Ra).
• Ancient Israel: Historically viewed as a kingdom ruled by divine authority and prophecy.
• Tibetan Empire/Tibet: Traditionally led by the Dalai Lama, combining spiritual and political leadership.
• Byzantine Empire: Characterized by "caesaropapism," where the emperor had supreme power over the church, blurring the lines between divine and state power.
• Caliphates: Historical Islamic empires (e.g., Abbasid, Ottoman) where the caliph was both political leader and spiritual successor.
• Florence (1494–1498): Led by Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican friar, who instituted a strict religious republic.
• Geneva (16th Century): Under John Calvin, the city council merged with church leadership to govern through religious principles.
• Bogd Khanate of Mongolia (1911–1919): A Buddhist theocracy led by the Bogd Gegen.
  View attachment 1248476Wikipedia +8

Key Characteristics and Examples:

• Divine Right/Divinity: In many systems, rulers were viewed as divine (Japan's emperor until 1947, Egyptian Pharaohs).
• Clerical Rule (Hierocracy): In other cases, professional clergy manage the state, as seen in the Papal States (Vatican) or modern Iran.
• Legal Code: Religious law (e.g., Sharia, Canon Law) dictates civil laws.
  View attachment 1248479Wikipedia +5

Modern Theocracies:

• Vatican City: An absolute monarchy ruled by the Pope.
• Iran: An Islamic republic with supreme clerical oversight since 1979.
• Afghanistan: Governed under Sharia law.
• Saudi Arabia: Governed under Islamic law with state-enforced religious compliance.
  ~S~

You can stop me all you want. It doesn't change the fact that the Church had no armies. The First Crusade was largely a noble-led campaign rather than one led by kings. Subsequent crusades were led by major kings. The Church provided the "spiritual" sanction, while the monarchs and nobility provided the military might.

 

[sparky]

The Church provided the "spiritual" sanction, while the monarchs and nobility provided the military might.

they were one and the same entities Ding.......why do you think they call it the 'King James version'?

~S~

 

[ding]

they were one and the same entities Ding.......why do you think they call it the 'King James version'?

~S~

I'm certain they weren't. The Church was modeled after a monarchy because that was the governance of the day. The Catholic Church and the monarchies were not the same entity.

 

[BreezeWood]

You can stop me all you want. It doesn't change the fact that the Church had no armies.

you are as dishonest a deceiver as ever who has lived ...

The Knights Templar, founded around 1118–1119 to protect pilgrims, became known as the "Army of God" and a vital military arm of the Catholic Church.

they live today - just change their hats ...

is the backbone of christianity since its founding ... desert dwellers.

 

[ding]

you are as dishonest a deceiver as ever who has lived ...



View attachment 1248575

they live today - just change their hats ...

View attachment 1248576

is the backbone of christianity since its founding ... desert dwellers.

The KKK was the terrorist wing of the DEMOCRATIC Party.

The Knights Templar were a powerful, wealthy, and devout medieval military order founded around 1119 to protect European pilgrims in the Holy Land. Known for their distinctive white mantles with red crosses, they combined monastic life with elite military prowess during the Crusades and established a sophisticated early banking system, eventually becoming a dominant financial and political force before being dissolved in 1312.
History.com +4
Origins and Purpose

• Founding: The order was established by French knight Hugues de Payens and eight companions around 1119 following the First Crusade.
  • Mission: They were formed to protect Christian pilgrims traveling on dangerous roads to the Holy Land (Jerusalem).
  • Name: Formally known as the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon," they were based in the Holy Land.
    

Power, Wealth, and Banking

• Multinational Power: They functioned as a powerful, organized, and wealthy institution (described by some as the first multinational corporation) with vast holdings in Europe and the Middle East.
• Banking System: The Templars developed an early banking network where travelers could deposit funds in one country and withdraw them in another (e.g., in the Levant), ensuring safety for travelers and financing Crusader states.
• Influence: They managed farms, vineyards, built castles and cathedrals, owned ships, and served as trusted financial advisors and lenders to European monarchs.
  Wikipedia +2

Legacy

• Military Reputation: They were regarded as fearless, dedicated warriors in battle.
• Modern Connection: Today, their legacy continues through the Masonic organization known as the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the York Rite.