Theocracy

Quick Summary

 * A theocracy is a government which has established a state-mandated religion. God, or another religious figure, is established as the head of state and ruler of the country.
 * Conservatives want the United States to become a theocratic Christian version of Iran. They have been taking steps toward this vision, especially in recent decades. Conservatives do not believe in religious freedom nor in religious tolerance.
 * Conservatives intentionally misinterpret the Bible, the United States Constitution, and the intentions of our Founding Fathers in order to get their way.

Quotes

 * "Just like his evil muslim communist USURPER comrad, barrack hussein obama, This goyle character is just another 'turban topper' we don't need in congress or any political office that deals with the U.S. Constitution, Christianity and the United States of America!!!"
 * Mike Pompeo, Republican Representative of Kansas; though not written by Pompeo himself, his campaign tweeted this quote to his supporters
 * The quote describes Muslims as evil and communist while using ethnic slurs. It uses President Obama's middle name in a derogatory context. The author, by equating Christianity with the Constitution and America, signals his desire for a theocratic America.
 * "all Americans would be forced -- forced at gunpoint no less -- to listen to every David Barton message."
 * This statement was made by Mike Huckabee at the Rediscover God in America conference in 2011. David Barton, to whom Huckabee was referring, is a Christian nationalist who believes America should be governed by biblical law (much in the same way Islamic nationalists wish to impose Sharia law upon their countrymen).
 * "I think we’re going through those difficult economic times for a purpose, to bring us back to those Biblical principles of you know, you don’t spend all the money."
 * The BP oil spill of 2010 was not the result of poor maintenance' or other human error, but was instead "just an act of God that occurred" which "cannot be prevented." This was stated at a conference partially funded by BP.
 * Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, is using state money and resources to hold a prayer day aimed at converting non-Christians, ignoring the separation of church and state and ignoring the Constitutional prohibition of establishing a state religion.
 * All three of the above are from Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry

Incidents

 * NC GOP Commissioner: Non-Christian Prayers Forbidden At County Meetings
 * End Times Fanatics Defend Bachmann: 'They Don't Want To Believe The Truth'


 * The United States Marine Corps has an official position that people without faith are a danger to themselves and others, and that a lack of faith indicates mental instability.
 * Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert publicly stated he cares more about what he thinks God wants than what his constituents want.  He also said, "We’re going to take this country back for the Lord. We’re going to try to take this country back for conservatism. And we’re not going to allow minorities to run roughshod over what you people believe in!"
 * The Cullman County, Alabama school superindentent and other district officials planned a prayer caravan to go to district schools for prayer services.
 * The Alabama Public Service Commission opened its July 17, 2013 with a prayer from a Baptist minister John Jordan, a Tea Party member, asking God forgiveness for same-sex marriage, abortions, and not having mandatory prayer in public schools.
 * Republicans in the U.S. Congress introduced an amendment to a Pentagon spending bill banning appointment of nonreligious military chaplains.
 * Republicans in the Kansas legislature proposed a bill calling for their congressional delegation to "aggressively defend the rights of religious conscience and the free exercise of the Judeo-Christian tradition in the U.S. Military and support the professional chaplaincy," calling the U.S. a "Christian nation."
 * In Colorado City, Arizona, a pro-polygamy religious group buried a cat alive in concrete at the home of a former church member. The city sheriffs, who were still members of the church, did not care and simply said they would have thrown dirt on the buried cat.

Persecution Complex
Many of the religious right believe, or at least pretend to believe, that Christians are being persecuted in America, even though the opposite is true.
 * Daryl Banther of Georgia was handing out religious information without a permit in the parking lot at a Gospel music festival.  A parent filed a police report about a strange man approaching children in the parking lot, and authorities asked Banther to stop.  Banther insists "they're taking all the Christian rights away."  Banther is wrong.  He was at a Gospel music festival, and parents were concerned that a strange man was approaching their children at a parking lot - not that he was distributing religious information.

Websites
Theocracy Watch: The Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party

http://www.theocracywatch.org/

References and Recent Articles
Gov. Perry: Economic Crisis is Part of God's Plan to Return Us to Biblical Principles // Diamond, Marie // 06-13-2011 // http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/13/234883/rick-perry-gods-plan/ 2011, March 30. Rodda, Chris. Huckabee: All Americans should be forced at gunpoint to listen to David Barton. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/huckabee-david-barton-gunpoint_b_842506.html 2010, August 13. Miller, Tricia. Apology accepted; will Kansas campaign gaffe blow over? http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/08/kansas-goyle-pompeo.html
 * 8/30/2013.  Bob Cull / AATTP.  Watch Arkansas Lawmaker Openly Admit He Serves Only God, Not Constituents.  http://aattp.org/watch-arkansas-lawmaker-openly-admit-he-serves-only-god-not-constituents/  Last accessed 8/31/2013.
 * 7/26/2013.  Rebecca Klein / Huffington Post. Plans For Prayer Caravan In Alabama Schools 'Illegal', Says Group.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/prayer-caravan-alabama-schools_n_3660455.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009  Last accessed 7/26/2013.
 * 7/25/2013.  Blake Page / Huffington Post.  The United States Marine Corps Officially Declares 'Lack of Spiritual Faith' as a Sign of Instability.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-page/marine-corps-religious-discrimination_b_3647235.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009  Last accessed 7/28/2013.
 * 7/25/2013.  Kimberly Winston / Religion News Service / Huffington Post.  Humanist Military Chaplains Rejected by Congress.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/25/humanist-military-chaplain-_n_3651125.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009  Last accessed 7/25/2013.
 * 7/25/2013.  Hunter Stuart / Huffington Post.  Alabama Government Agency Holds Prayer Prayer Against Abortion, Gay Marriage (UPDATE, VIDEO).  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/25/alabama-prayer-gay-marriage_n_3651756.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009  Last accessed 7/25/2013.
 * 5/29/2013.  AATTP.  Georgia Religious Nut Accosts Children, Threatens To Sue City (Video).  http://aattp.org/georgia-religious-nut-accosts-children-threatens-to-sue-city-video/  Last accessed 5/30/2013.
 * 5/29/2013.  Celock, John / Huffington Post.  Kansas Religion Bill Urges Military To Defend 'Judeo-Christian Tradition' Against Alleged Discrimination.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/kansas-religion-bill_n_3355166.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009  Last accessed 5/29/2013.
 * Cat Buried Alive In Concrete A Warning Message From Polygamists? (WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO) (7/9/2012)
 * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/cat-buried-in-concrete-colorado-city-az_n_1660320.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009; last accessed 7/10/2012
 * Indiana Senate Passes Controversial Creationism Bill
 * “The governing body of a school corporation may offer instruction on various theories of the origin of life. The curriculum for  the course must include theories from multiple religions , which may include, but is not limited to, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Scientology.” (quoted from the bill)
 * http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/02/02/indiana-senate-passes-controversial-creationism-bill/
 * Last accessed 2/3/2012