Any example of a successful theocracy ?

Christians and Jews were often confused by Romans : same remote origin.  According to Tacitus, the reason why the Christians were targeted has more to do with their attitude towards the worship of the God-emperor than their religion:"...they were accused of disloyalty because of their refusal to perform the token ritual acknowledging the divine status of the Emperor, viewed by most citizens as little different from a modern flag salute..." http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/tacitus.html

I believe that, but then again, I don't think that Jews would have acknowledge divine imperial status, either.  From what I have heard, the Romans really disliked the Christians because their religion was new.  While the Romans may not have agreed with the Jews, at least their belief was one that was rooted in something ancient, so it was respected.  It was never a crime in Rome to publicly declare oneself a Jew, but it was a crime at different times to declare oneself a Christian.

According to Tacitus, Christians were hated because :- The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful floods together and is celebrated. - a vast multitude were convicted, not so much for the crime of burning the city, but for hatred of the human race.However :- people began to pity these sufferers, because they were consumed not for the public good but on account of the fierceness of one man.Christianity wasn't respected in these time but considered as a sect among others.

I mentioned it a few days ago, but today is the official five year anniversary of the forum.  I think 50 years is the golden anniversary, and 25 years is silver, and one year is paper.  What is five years?

Here, 1 year is cotton, 5 is wood (just like in "Faire feu (ou fl?che) de tout bois"  😉 )Happy birthday !

The trolley problem (or Moral Conundrum)- Case one: A runaway tram is heading towards five people tied to tracks. You are a bystander. Would you flick a switch so it turned down a line where one person was tied to the tracks?- Case two: Same problem, but you are watching from a footbridge. You could push a fat man next to you off the bridge, and his bulk would stop the tram. Would you do it?Interesting dilemma with trainee soldiers studying philosophy at the West Point military academy in New York state.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9006784.stm

“Thank you China !”: also sprach Gavin Menzies  ;D