Democracy or theocracy?
- Nathan Yen

- Sep 18, 2023
- 2 min read

As systems of government, theocracy and democracy may seem similar, yet they harbour vast differences. Unlike a theocracy whereby citizens need to abide by the strict rules of a specific or divine religion, a democracy is superior in achieving and maintaining diversity and peace within a country by maintaining collective care of all its citizens. A democratic society is like a garden filled with fruits of freedom.
Firstly, the entire and diverse populace has the right to vote for a leader in a democracy in order to make equitable and inclusive laws. Letting people have a say means that the populace is more likely to be in sync with the leader and peacefully abide law for a prosperous and harmonious country. Giving everyone the privilege to vote is as essential as drinking water, allowing the nation to adapt to the changing needs of a dynamic population. In contrast, founding legal frameworks on religious beliefs significantly disadvantages and prejudices others with opposing beliefs. In certain theocracies, there are chaotic protests from people with dissimilar religions. Hence, this creates tumultuous environments lowering the quality of life for citizens in theocracies.While a democracy adopts a utilitarian approach which may neglect the minority, it still allows for alterations in the law unlike a theocracy which strictly adheres to religion.
Secondly, as opposed to the divine ruling in a theocracy, there is a human ruling in a democratic system which is less likely to result in the abuse of power and control. Being based on God, a theocratic system can be chaotic as the control is removed from the people and given to divine rulers who may not have the people’s best interests. Frequently, this can result in authoritarianism and dictatorship. Therefore, it is much more civilised and fair for a country to use democracy than theocracy.
In conclusion, a democratic system is significantly fairer and safer than a theocracy. As a modern and legitimate political system, democracy gives the people, instead of divine rulers, to express their changing needs to form strong foundations of law and ensure a country’s prosperity.





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