A theocracy is a country or community where religious leaders hold the political power, and where religious law IS the law of the land. Not a country where most people are religious, and not a country where a church is influential — in a theocracy the priests, imams or monks are the government, or the government answers to them, and what counts as a crime is decided by scripture rather than by a parliament.

A theocracy神權政體 is a country or community是一個國家或社群 where religious leaders hold the political power在那裡宗教領袖掌握政治權力 and where religious law IS the law of the land而且宗教法就是這片土地的法律 Not a country where most people are religious不是大部分人有宗教信仰的國家 and not a country where a church is influential也不是教會有影響力的國家 in a theocracy在神權政體裡 the priests, imams or monks are the government神父、伊瑪目或僧侶就是政府 or the government answers to them或是政府要向他們負責 and what counts as a crime is decided by scripture rather than by a parliament而什麼算是犯罪，是由經典決定，而不是由國會決定

The word is used two ways. Historically and neutrally, scholars describe ancient Israel, or the Papal States, or Tibet under the Dalai Lamas, as theocracies — it is simply a name for a type of state.

The word這個詞 is used two ways有兩種用法 Historically and neutrally從歷史、中性的角度來看 scholars describe ancient Israel, or the Papal States, or Tibet under the Dalai Lamas學者會把古代以色列、教皇國，或達賴喇嘛治下的西藏 as theocracies稱為神權政體 it is simply a name for a type of state這只是一種政體類型的名稱而已

But in newspapers today it is very often a criticism. To call a government 'a theocracy' or 'sliding towards theocracy' is usually to say it is imposing one religion's rules on everyone, including people who do not share that faith. Modern Iran is the example most often given. Your students should notice that tone, because using the word about a real country is rarely a neutral act.

But in newspapers today但在今天的報紙裡 it is very often a criticism它常常帶有批評的意味 To call a government 'a theocracy' or 'sliding towards theocracy'把一個政府說成「a theocracy（神權政體）」或「sliding towards theocracy（正走向神權政治）」 is usually to say it is imposing one religion's rules on everyone通常是在說它把某一種宗教的規則強加在所有人身上 including people who do not share that faith包括那些不信那個宗教的人 Modern Iran現代的伊朗 is the example most often given是最常被舉出的例子 Your students should notice that tone你的學生應該要注意到這種語氣 because using the word about a real country因為拿這個詞來說一個真實存在的國家 is rarely a neutral act很少會是中性的行為

The opposite people usually name is a secular state — one that keeps religion and government separate. The related word for a person is 'theocrat', and the adjective is 'theocratic'. The plural is theocracies.

The opposite people usually name大家通常會拿來對比的是 is a secular state「secular state（政教分離的國家）」 one that keeps religion and government separate也就是把宗教和政府分開的國家 The related word for a person指人的相關詞是 'theocrat'「theocrat」（神權統治者） and the adjective is形容詞則是 'theocratic'「theocratic」 The plural複數形 is theocracies是 theocracies