--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No form of theocracy, whether it's…" description: "\"No form of theocracy, whether it's manifested in a violent or non-violent form, is ever good for civilisation, and we have to challenge it in civil soc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manife_455590.jpg" --- # No form of theocracy, whether it's manifested in a violent… ![“No form of theocracy, whether it's manifested in a violent or non-violent form, is ever good for civilisation, and we have to challenge it in civil society as well as we would challenge Christian-based theocracy, or any other form of bigotry.” quote by Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manife_455590.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manife_455590.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manife_455590.jpg) > “No form of theocracy, whether it's manifested in a violent or non-violent form, is ever good for civilisation, and we have to challenge it in civil society as well as we would challenge Christian-based theocracy, or any other form of bigotry.” [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theocracies, violent or not, harm civilization; they must be challenged like any bigotry. **In simple terms:** Theocracies damage society and need opposition. Key Takeaway Oppose all forms of religious authoritarianism. Themes politics religion human rights secularism activism Mood urgent determined Type activist philosophical When to use this quote - policy advocacy - community organizing - educational campaigns - legislative reform Key Concepts sociology ethics law Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect religious freedom while limiting theocracy? - What strategies effectively counter religious bigotry? A Different Perspective Balancing freedom of belief with anti‑theocracy measures is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Based Theocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-theocracy-3967311/) [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Civil society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-society/) [Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilisation/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Theocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-theocracy-3967310/) [Good Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-civilisation-1188991/) [Non violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-violent/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Theocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theocracy/) [Theocracy Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theocracy-form-2817151/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [I'm yet to discover any form of theocracy that isn't homophobic, that isn't bigoted to the out group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-m-yet-to-discover-any-form-of-theocracy-that-isn-t-homophobic-that/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [The kingdom of God is a theocracy. And as it is the only form of government which will redeem and save mankind, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-pratt/the-kingdom-of-god-is-a-theocracy-and-as-it-is-the-only-form-of/) [Orson Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-pratt/) > [A good civilisation spreads over us freely like a tree, varying and yielding because it is alive. A bad civilisation stands up and sticks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-good-civilisation-spreads-over-us-freely-like-a-tree-varying-and/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Unity in faith is theocracy; unity in politics is fascism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/unity-in-faith-is-theocracy-unity-in-politics-is-fascism/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [“When the Washington Post telephoned me at home on Valentine's Day 1989 to ask my opinion about the Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwah , I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/when-the-washington-post-telephoned-me-at-home-on-valentine-s-day/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“As he defended the book one evening in the early 1980s at the Carnegie Endowment in New York, I knew that some of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/as-he-defended-the-book-one-evening-in-the-early-1980s-at-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Our country, though it is not a theocracy, you will not understand democracy if you don't understand the biblical foundations and traditions and foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/our-country-though-it-is-not-a-theocracy-you-will-not-understand/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“You are the only thing standing between them and the theocracy they want.   Diatribe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/you-are-the-only-thing-standing-between-them-and-the-theocracy-they/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“All governments are ordained by God, but none compare to government by God, theocracy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-bowen/all-governments-are-ordained-by-god-but-none-compare-to-government-by/) [William R. Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-bowen/) > [“It can certainly be misleading to take the attributes of a movement, or the anxieties and contradictions of a moment, and to personalize or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-can-certainly-be-misleading-to-take-the-attributes-of-a-movement/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [If you're a Christian and you're running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy, I'm not going to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/if-you-re-a-christian-and-you-re-running-for-president-and-you-want/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Dark influences from the American past congregate among us still. If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“There is no greater threat to liberty, peace and progress than theocracy.  Right now the Muslims just happen to be leading the race when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/there-is-no-greater-threat-to-liberty-peace-and-progress-than/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“The hijab-related deaths and death sentences in Iran show that breaking the attire laws is more dangerous adventure than breaking the nudity laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-n-prasher/the-hijab-related-deaths-and-death-sentences-in-iran-show-that/) [R. N. Prasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-n-prasher/) ## More by Maajid Nawaz > [I was held in the Mazra Tora Prison for my role as leader of the pan-Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir in Alexandria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-was-held-in-the-mazra-tora-prison-for-my-role-as-leader-of-the-pan/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Ironically, xenophobic nationalists are utilizing the benefits of globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/ironically-xenophobic-nationalists-are-utilizing-the-benefits-of/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [I care not to debate which came first, Islamism or anti-Muslim bigotry; suffice to say that both feed into each other symbiotically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-care-not-to-debate-which-came-first-islamism-or-anti-muslim-bigotry/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Let me make this clear: it is our duty to adopt a policy barring the wearing of niqabs in these public buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/let-me-make-this-clear-it-is-our-duty-to-adopt-a-policy-barring-the/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Expressing myself through language was always something that I had had to learn to do more so than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/expressing-myself-through-language-was-always-something-that-i-had/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Not all Muslims wish to express themselves in public through a communal religious identity. Identities are multiple, and some may wish to speak instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/not-all-muslims-wish-to-express-themselves-in-public-through-a/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [During my teenage years as an Islamist recruiter, I moved to live in self-contained communities in the London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/during-my-teenage-years-as-an-islamist-recruiter-i-moved-to-live-in/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [As people's opportunities to succumb to confirmation bias increases online - only seeking out information that confirms their prejudices - ignorance, extremism and close-mindedness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/as-people-s-opportunities-to-succumb-to-confirmation-bias-increases/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [After much soul searching I was able to renounce my past Islamist ideology, challenging everything I was once prepared to die for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/after-much-soul-searching-i-was-able-to-renounce-my-past-islamist/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Chance explorations on search engines do not 'accidentally' lead users to extremist websites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/chance-explorations-on-search-engines-do-not-accidentally-lead-users/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [I think I would encourage leaders to start working with communities in order to inoculate angry, young teenagers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-think-i-would-encourage-leaders-to-start-working-with-communities/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [The way to tackle Muslimphobia is to tackle prejudice against Muslims. What it is not is to pretend that Islamist extremism does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/the-way-to-tackle-muslimphobia-is-to-tackle-prejudice-against-muslims/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Preying on the grievances of disaffected young men is the bedrock of Islamism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/preying-on-the-grievances-of-disaffected-young-men-is-the-bedrock-of/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [One of the problems we're facing is, in my view, that there are no globalized, youth-led, grassroots social movements advocating for democratic culture across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/one-of-the-problems-we-re-facing-is-in-my-view-that-there-are-no/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [To be forced to defend oneself is an inherently undesirable position to be in. The focus shifts from ideas to the person conveying them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/to-be-forced-to-defend-oneself-is-an-inherently-undesirable-position/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) [Explore all 87 Maajid Nawaz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) ## More Bigotry quotes > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Bigoted people are just scholars who lack any sort of legitimate credentials to answer why they're bigoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doctavius/bigoted-people-are-just-scholars-who-lack-any-sort-of-legitimate/) [Doctavius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doctavius/) > [Sadly, we can't eliminate bigotry. But that doesn't mean we have to tolerate it, much less give it a platform on which to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/sadly-we-can-t-eliminate-bigotry-but-that-doesn-t-mean-we-have-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [“Remember who you are. This creature wants to take it from you. Do not let him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/remember-who-you-are-this-creature-wants-to-take-it-from-you-do-not/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Oh Beautiful For A Land That's Free Where All Can Congregate Together Live With No Degree Of Bigotry And Hate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bee/oh-beautiful-for-a-land-that-s-free-where-all-can-congregate-together/) [Kathy Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bee/) > [“That’s the problem with indoctrination—the whole point of the First Order’s kind of education is to stop someone from thinking and instead kick their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/that-s-the-problem-with-indoctrination-the-whole-point-of-the-first/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [Too small is our world to allow discrimination, bigotry and intolerance to thrive in any corner of it, let alone in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-engel/too-small-is-our-world-to-allow-discrimination-bigotry-and/) [Eliot Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-engel/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, especially considering its emphases on timeless and critical topics like discrimination and prejudice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lovejoy/this-book-would-be-a-great-addition-to-a-classroom-library-especially/) [Sharon Lovejoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lovejoy/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Fear and Bigotry are bred fom isolation and ignorance. -Shekinah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-and-bigotry-are-bred-fom-isolation-and-ignorance-shekinah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 661 Bigotry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No form of theocracy, whether it's manifested in a violent or non-violent form, is ever good for civilisation, and we have to challenge it in civil society as well as we would challenge Christian-based theocracy, or any other form of bigotry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maajid Nawaz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manifested-in-a-violent-or-non/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigotry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manifested-in-a-violent-or-non/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manife_455590.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manife_455590.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manife_455590.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No form of theocracy, whether it's manifested in a violent or non-violent form, is ever good for…” — Maajid Nawaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maajid Nawaz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No form of theocracy, whether it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manifested-in-a-violent-or-non/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manifested-in-a-violent-or-non/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```