Just to respond to one point -- your example of your Jewish friend. I would not see the US of 70 years ago as an example of a Christian theocracy. Rather, it was in the process of shedding explicit Christian foundations, while still wanting to retain the facade of Christianity (prayer in public schools, for example).
The situation with your friend would not arise in a government based on Biblical norms, because (as I see it) there would be no public schools at all -- only a multitude of private schools, established by various groups and perspectives for educating their children. So a Jewish child would not be forced to recite a Christian prayer, because he could just as easily attend a Jewish school. If his family still chose to send him to a Christian school, he and they would understand that Christian teaching would be predominant, and he would be expected to participate as would the other children. But that would be their choice -- if they don't want the Christian prayers, they can go to the Jewish (or Hindu, or atheist, or whatever) school. In fact, this approach should be more in line with your libertarian tendencies -- get the government out of education, and let the free market take care of it.
My point is that you can't point to some time when there were abuses and call that a "Christian theocracy." This is akin to pointing to the divided kingdom under Rehoboam and Jeroboam, and saying that was an example of a "theocracy." While the people may have claimed to be serving God, it is plain that they were not actually doing so.
The situation with your friend would not arise in a government based on Biblical norms, because (as I see it) there would be no public schools at all -- only a multitude of private schools, established by various groups and perspectives for educating their children. So a Jewish child would not be forced to recite a Christian prayer, because he could just as easily attend a Jewish school. If his family still chose to send him to a Christian school, he and they would understand that Christian teaching would be predominant, and he would be expected to participate as would the other children. But that would be their choice -- if they don't want the Christian prayers, they can go to the Jewish (or Hindu, or atheist, or whatever) school. In fact, this approach should be more in line with your libertarian tendencies -- get the government out of education, and let the free market take care of it.
My point is that you can't point to some time when there were abuses and call that a "Christian theocracy." This is akin to pointing to the divided kingdom under Rehoboam and Jeroboam, and saying that was an example of a "theocracy." While the people may have claimed to be serving God, it is plain that they were not actually doing so.
Rod Kirby, Ph.D.
Dominion Christian High School
Marietta, GA
dominionchristian.org
Dominion Christian High School
Marietta, GA
dominionchristian.org
