Theonomy is associated with the wisdom of God.
Theonomy is a term that is not part of the dictionary prepared by the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). In the etymology of this noun we find the Greek word theos , which refers to the understanding of the divine through reason ; and the compositional element -nomy , a suffix that refers to a set of rules .
divine wisdom
The idea of theonomy, therefore, can refer to the conceptualization and analysis of the rules or precepts of God . The notion is also linked to a religious and political movement that aspires to govern by applying the teachings found in the Bible .
In a broad sense, theonomy implies resorting to divine wisdom to address social problems . Continuing with this thought, this wisdom is reflected in the Holy Scriptures .
For theonomy, social and economic problems are based on problems of ( moral ) values. The moral guide for human beings, in this framework, is the text of the Bible . That is why following the teachings of this book is, according to theonomy, the way to solve the challenges that appear in a society .
Laws based on the Bible
In this way, theonomy proposes that laws be a reflection or an adaptation of the principles disclosed in the Bible . Thus, the closer civil regulations are to divine instructions, the more just and ethical the rules that regulate public affairs and coexistence between people will be.
In practice, theonomy results in a conservative political doctrine . Its defenders believe that only Christians should access the command positions of a government , so that they are responsible for its administration according to biblical laws.
Objectives of theonomy
Among the objectives of theonomy that have been pointed out by the many authors specialized in this discipline, we can highlight the following three, which in part have been anticipated above:
* the creation at a universal level of theocratic republics that respond to biblical precepts ;
* exclude all inhabitants who do not profess Christianity from citizenship and voting;
* that the State applies the law of the Bible.
If these goals are applied in the world, the results would include the prohibition of certain freedoms that modern societies have been struggling to achieve for decades, such as sexual freedom (that each human being can live their sexuality and sexual orientation without restrictions, without having to give explanations or suffer consequences for them). But also attitudes that we consider incorrect or unethical , such as adultery, would receive extreme penalties, such as death.
One of the objectives of theonomy is that divine laws govern the State.
Nor would the diversity of religions be possible if only one of them assumed the power of the State, and in the same way images of idols or the use of biblical characters in humorous content would be strictly prohibited. All this and much more would become illegal. Of course, not all authors defend such severe punishments for the aforementioned acts; Such is the case of the American writer Joel McDurmon , who opposes the death penalty since he does not consider it in line with the characteristics of the current pact.
Others, such as the critic and polemicist JD Hall , point negatively to McDurmon's position and those who share it, arguing that it is not one that faithfully reflects the principles of theonomy. According to American philosopher Greg Bahnsen , who lived from 1948 to 1995, both officials and voters should abide by God's laws . In other words, only laws for which God imposed sanctions should be part of government programs.