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| Arabian Desert from the Daily Galaxy |
Vocativ: June 18, 2015 by James King
Source
Cornell Law School: Death Penalty Worldwide
Vocativ Cited
'At least 16 “crimes” can result in a death sentence in Saudi Arabia—and more than a third wouldn’t even get you jail time in the U.S. On that list: sorcery and witchcraft. Of the 100 people executed this year, 47 were convicted of non-violent drug crimes, according to Human Rights Watch. Only 57 were Saudi citizens.'
Cited continued
'In many countries, there are established minimum and maximum sentences for different crimes—or a penal code. In Saudi Arabia, that is virtually non-existent. Only a handful of crimes, including murder, adultery and “consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex,” carry specific punishments, and in each of those cases, it’s death, according to Death Penalty Worldwide.
Critics say this lack of a penal code gives judges broad discretion over the sentences they hand down, which allows them to impose death sentences, typically carried out by beheading, somewhat arbitrarily.'
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| Vocativ |
The Wikipedia article on Saudi Arabia calls it a ‘Unitary, Islamic, Absolute, Monarchy’.
It may be considered by some observers, a theocracy.
The subject of debate.
As I noted on previous posts, I am personally philosophically opposed to a theocracy, or religious rule.
I would be opposed to theonomy, at least when corporately controlled, in this present realm. It is one thing to be self-directed by religious rule within a religious community, such as a church and the Church, it is another to be forced to follow religious rules by the State.
I do not hold to Islam as a worldview, but follow a Biblical Christian faith, philosophy and theology.
Theocracy
N.H.G Robinson states that just as democracy signifies a type of government ruled by the people by elected representatives, theocracy represents government rule by God and his representatives. Ancient Israel is a primary example. Robinson (1999: 564).
M.J. Wyngaarden explains that word is derived from the Greek words for God, theos, and from kratein to rule. This represents the rule of God. and is traced back to the Old Testament concept and may have been coined by Josephus. Wyngaarden (1996: 1083).
All human beings are presently sinful, by nature and significant free choice, not being forced or coerced to commit thoughts and actions for which they are significantly morally accountable. If one is forced or coerced to commit thoughts or actions, he or she is not morally accountable, in my view,
I do not support any primarily human attempt at establishing theocracy. Or religious rule.
I do not assume divine origins as sanctioning attempts at theocracy or religious rule.
A primarily human attempt at theocracy or religious rule does not guarantee Biblically based rule through the guidance of the true God.
Serious religious error can develop within a theocracy as political power can influence theology.
Persons with views differing from the theocratic rule can be persecuted and even killed, as people committing treason.
Human rights and freedoms can be violated.
Therefore, In the present age, I favour democracy over theocracy.
Even as democracy is of course too tainted by sin.
God and Christ are stated in Revelation, Chapters 21-22 to eventually establish the supernaturally culminated Kingdom of God.
Human beings that are at all involved in ruling will be resurrected and sinless. (1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation).
True divine rule will feature the infinite goodness and knowledge of God and the ability to reasonably and fairly rule as a theocracy. Although Christ will be King, there will likely exist some democracy, as in human beings having some self-rule in Christ.
Theonomy
N.H.G. Robinson and D.W.D. Shaw note that theonomy is an interpretation of a person’s life when ultimate ethical authority is found in the divine will. Autonomy would be self-imposed authority. Robinson and Shaw. (1999: 567).
They reference Paul Tillich and note that he states that theonomy is a law or principle which brings together the law of people with the ground and source of all being. Robinson and Shaw. (1999: 567).
For some autonomy and theonomy may be understood as the immanent and transcendent aspects of the ethics of theism. Robinson and Shaw. (1999: 567).
These seem like reasonable definitions, although Tillich’s does not read as particularly Christian. God would be more than the ground and source of all being, but a personal God that has revealed himself and laws that reflect his nature and will for humanity.
ROBINSON, N.H.G (1999) 'Theocracy' in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.
ROBINSON, N.H.G. AND SHAW D.W.D. (1999) ‘Theonomy’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.
WYNGAARDEN, M.J. (1996) ‘Theocracy’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.
