*Biblical Theocracy: A vision of the biblical foundations for a Christian 
    political philosophy*
By Stephen Palmquist, D.Phil. (Oxon). Philopsychy Press (P.O. Box 1224,
    Shatin, Hong Kong), 1993.  193 pages. Index of Scripture References, 
    and General Index. Softcover. US$10 (air) or $7 (sea).

"A work of striking originality."
    --Glenn Tinder (Prof. of Political Science, Univ. of Massachusetts)

    What does the Bible have to say about *politics*? Does it support the 
supremacy of a specific political system, or is it politically neutral? Most 
Christians nowadays believe some form of democracy is at least supported by, if 
not *identical* to, biblical politics. In *Biblical Theocracy*, Stephen 
Palmquist offers an entirely different point of view, yet without neglecting 
the radically political character of the Bible's central message.
    After tracing the origin of modern political theory back to its roots in 
Aristotle's philosophy, Palmquist calls into question the very foundations of 
modern democracy, with its almost universal faith in the inalienability of 
human rights. Rather than focusing on defending rights, biblical politics seeks 
from beginning to end to reveal and implement *theocracy*--i.e., God's rule. 
Most scholars use the word "theocracy" to refer to a political system whereby 
some individual or group rules in the name of God. This is why so many, even 
among the ranks of Christians, have rejected it as a harmful misuse of 
political categories, regarding theocracy as a merely *religious* system with 
little or no real political value. Palmquist therefore devotes considerable 
attention to clarifying the important difference between theocracy and its 
perversion, *ecclesiocracy*--i.e., rule by the church. In his interpretation of 
the Bible, theocracy is the manifestation of God's rule in the heart of each 
individual believer. As such, it looks to unbelievers more like anarchy than a 
workable political system.
    Palmquist's reflections do not remain on the theoretical plane. Part Two 
("Theocracy *Now*!") shows how the Bible treats theocracy as a realistic 
perspective from which to approach actual political situations and issues. This 
"kingdom politics", as Palmquist sees it, not only presents a viable 
alternative to Gandhi-style protests, but also provides a way of understanding 
and coping with the political roots of suffering and evil in the world. 
Understood as the "politics of *love*", theocracy implies very specific ways of 
responding to difficult political problems. Palmquist himself applies these 
specifics in detail to the current debate over how Christians ought to respond 
to the abortion issue. As a Christian philosopher and Kant-scholar, his book 
offers a fresh way of looking at politics and social issues to anyone 
interested in biblical interpretation or Christian living.