Theocracy
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Feudalism • Plutocracy • Timocracy • Doctrinism (Base • United • Division • Evolutionary) |
A theocracy is a form of government in which a religion or faith plays a dominant role.
The word theocracy originates from the Greek theokratia, meaning literally "rule by god".
Most commonly, theocracy refers to the installation of religious figures into key civil leadership roles. In addition, governmental policies are heavily influenced by the principles of the dominant religion and the government claims to rule on behalf of the God or Gods. Theocracy is different from monarchy—where the monarch usually claims authority granted by a God or Gods—in that the administration of theocratic governments is often identical with the administrative hierarchy of the religion.