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Glite Dictionary
theonomy

theonomy

9.9
A belief that government should follow laws from the Bible instead of laws made by people
  • noun
  • /θiˈɒnəmi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : teonomía
  • The debate between theonomy and autonomy often highlights the tensions between religious doctrine and civil rights.

Examples

  • Many religious groups advocate for theonomy by believing that society should be governed by biblical principles rather than human-made laws.

  • On the other hand, Rushdoony taught that in civil politics, as in all areas of life, we will either have God's law or man's law -- theonomy or autonomy.

    Blog text (27)

  • Obviously, continuing violations, such as a post-divorce "second marriage" that was consummated before the implementation of theonomy, would be subject to the full penalty.

    Blog text (10)

  • Liberal detractors of theonomy never deride Thomas or Augustine as being "Christian Jihadists."

    Blog text (27)

  • I say that as someone who has studied the works of R.J. Rushdoony, the father of theonomy, and has read his seminal work The Institutes of Biblical Law.

    Blog text (10)

  • The rise of theonomy is evident in communities that prioritize divine law over secular governance.

Synonyms

theocracy
vstheonomy
24 7.7

Religious leaders run a country and say they rule by God's will

advocates rule by divine law rather than by particular leaders
hierocracy
vstheonomy
9.9

A government run by religious leaders like priests

supports government based on scripture rather than clergy rule

Antonyms

humanism
19 6.1

A belief that people and reason matter more than religious ideas

secularism
16 6.8

The idea that religion should not be part of government, schools, or public life

Surface Forms

theonomy singular
theonomies plural

Morphology

theonomy = theo + nomy

Formed from the Greek combining form 'theo-' (God) + bound suffix '-nomy' (law/system); the meaning is derivable for learners familiar with these bound morphemes but they are not standalone words for most learners.

Etymology

The word theonomy comes from the Greek parts theo- ('god') and -nomy ('law' or 'rule'), the same parts you see in theology and autonomy. So, it means 'rule by God', which fits the idea that society or government should be guided by divine or biblical law.