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Single word request: Theocracy without gods

English Language & Usage Asked by MegaCrow on April 24, 2021

If a state is run according to a theistic religion, such as with a god as the nominal head of state, or the head of state as a nominal god, that state may be called a theocracy.

However, if no god is present in the religion running the state, for example Buddhism, or at least many versions of it, the term theocracy wouldn’t apply, what with the "theo" part coming from the term for god.

So then, what term can be used to describe a state run according to a religion that does not have a god?

One Answer

wikipedia states on its Nontheistic_religion page :

Nontheistic religions are traditions of thought within a religious context—some otherwise aligned with theism, others not—in which nontheism informs religious beliefs or practices.

It also states on it Theocracy page:

Having a state religion is not sufficient enough to be a theocracy in the narrow sense of the term. Many countries have a state religion without the government directly deriving its powers from a divine authority or a religious authority directly exercising governmental powers. Since the narrow sense of the term has few instances in the modern world, the more common usage of it is the wider sense of an enforced state religion.

So I’d say ___ has a “state religion” or ___ is a “nontheist religious state”.

Answered by k1eran on April 24, 2021

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