Casper

Ben, isn't that a fairly common platform among Coptics as well? Would that then lend weight to the position as being an early Christian doctrine discarded by the early Catholics? I know there was a difference between catholic and orthodox churches (loosely) regarding political pecking order (compare King of Spain vs Czar of Russia). How widespread would you say this apolitical bent is? I feel myself it is a dichotomy in the US evangelical churches, where "politics is a nasty business and the church should be above nasty business", but ironically politicians often rest on their greater religious communities for power. Is that a modern offshoot of the apolitical ideal or just a coincidental reality?

Casper

David, would it depend somewhat on the wishes of her husband? Perhaps he has directed her into this career, and justified it to her scripturally. Who is she to question that?

just playing :devil1: advocate

bacht

Isn't there room for Christians to pursue a theocratic government by their lights? This has been tried before, like in Geneva, and Puritan New England. They may see the example of post-exilic Judah as worth emulating (minus the sacrificial cult of course).

And there's the NT mythology about a communistic society, but this probably wouldn't work on a large scale.

Casper

I wasn't attempting any scriptural interpretation, merely suggesting that the idea of Christian theology eschewing political involvement may be a theme debated among Christians as long as, or even longer than, say trinitarianism.

IMO, some of the dichotomy between Judaism and Christianity seems to stem from a notion of a chosen nation vs a notion of a chosen person. This also seems to be a core implication in Gentile christianity. Maybe I've glossed too much of it into one issue.

Amaleq13

He has been extremely involved in "advising" her on the daily business of government to the point of attending meetings and making personal calls to officials to voice his opinion so you might not be too far off the mark.

Casper

The question being, would that exhonerate her scripturally?

Amaleq13

It certainly provides an arguable "out".

bacht

You could be right. The other example is the medieval papacy, which approached the level of power of contemporary monarchies. Education and social services were in the hands of churchmen, and clerical courts affected various matters. Popes tried to install kings and bishops, with mixed success. Proclaiming a Crusade was a major social and military undertaking.