Sam Harris talking about Islam -> nothing worth my while.
Quote (Skinned @ Oct 7 2014 05:00pm)
They only connected during the medieval times in the great experiment of theocracy after the fall of Rome.
well, the Pope certainly had good relations with Charlemagne and Pepin, but the only theocracy of those times was the Papal state that Pepin granted. later rulers would regularly disagree or even war with the Pope.
the autocratic Eastern Roman Empire (and the Russian Empire which heavily drew from Eastern Roman tradition) could be considered to be somewhat theocratic even when compared to the divine rights of European kings, if that's what you're referring to. Calvin's Geneva and the Papal States are the only examples of proper theocracies that i can name off the top of my head (if prince-bishoprics aren't counted.)
Quote (Skinned @ Oct 7 2014 05:00pm)
Before and since they've been separate and with good reason. It has served us well, Islam hasn't had that separation and they are worse off for it.
the Kingdom of Sweden followed the Mosaic law alongside with its' secular laws after the Reformation and the church held many secular duties as well. we can pretty much trace the modern state churches of Sweden and Finland to the Reformation and the ties between worldly and religious authorities. it's also worth noticing that the last seriously taken Caliphat - the Ottoman Empire - sought to westernise their law while preserving religious law (and the Sultan's authority as a Caliph) during the so called Tanzimat period.
the legacy of French and American enlightenment secularism might skew your view a bit here
