# Militant Christian Countries **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170 "2003-03-09T23:42:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/1 "2003-03-09T23:42:07Z")
Just the facts no debate. I was wondering if there are CURRENTLY (not in the past) any countries that require people to be Christian. And outlaw other religious books. Like I don’t think Bible are allowed in Saudi Arabia (this may be wrong) but could it be like a Christian country that outlaws the Koran. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/2 "2003-03-10T00:17:10Z")
I just checked the [Saudi Embassy’s website about travel restrictions](http://www.saudiembassy.net/travel_info/Travel00.htm) & it doesn’t say a word about religious literature, such as a Bible. I’m completely unaware of any predominately Christian country which has a prohibition on the Qu’ran. Come to think of it, the only country I can think of that’s a religious government, Christian is The Vatican/The Holy See. ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/3 "2003-03-10T00:40:42Z")
Ireland just lost it’s title as a Christian country. I think they allowed other religious books however. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/4 "2003-03-10T00:51:00Z")
I’d be shocked if a Citizen of Vatican City didn’t have to be Catholic. From their site: “Citizenship can be acquired through stable residence and holding an office or job within the City. A citizen’s family can gain residence only by authorization.” I know they don’t outlaw other religious books tho. I think the OP is referring to Saudi Arabia 's banning the distribution (not possession) of Bibles in country. [http://www.state.gov/www/global/human\_rights/irf/irf\_rpt/irf\_saudiara.html](http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/irf/irf_rpt/irf_saudiara.html) My understanding is that signs at Saudi custom points tell folks to surrender “non-approved religious materials” – which leads to some confusion on this point. Maybe some who has actually been **IN** Saudi, unlike me at the edge of my knowledge, can answer definitively on this score tho … ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/5 "2003-03-10T01:02:02Z")
I suspect Spain under Francisco Franco may have been one of the last Christian countries to restrict the public activities of non-Christians (and of non-Catholic Christians). ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/6 "2003-03-10T01:39:09Z")
Maybe that would be a way to view this. A Christian country that would ban prosletizying (sp?) I believe my Islamic countries are OK with you being another religion so long as you don’t try to convert people. I think certain countries like Sweden are Christian in name but allow complete freedom ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/7 "2003-03-10T02:04:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I think certain countries like Sweden are Christian in name but allow complete freedom Actually, Sweden has now [disestablished the church](http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_sweden.html). [Denmark](http://www.interchurch.dk/LutheranChurch/6.htm) and [Norway](http://www.kirken.no/engelsk/engelsk.html) still maintain state churches, and the Church of England is still a state church. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/8 "2003-03-10T02:13:04Z")
Russia, I believe, has recently passed a law restricting proslytyzing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Calculus_of_Logic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/9 "2003-03-10T02:19:28Z")
There might be one in africa, but i wouldn’t know ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/10 "2003-03-10T12:51:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Calculus of Logic \* > \*\*There might be one in africa, but i wouldn’t know \*\* Boy, that’s helpful. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/11 "2003-03-10T12:54:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > **Russia, I believe, has recently passed a law restricting proslytyzing.** But is that to prevent non-Christians from proslytyzing, or is it aimed at non-Orthodox Christians from proslytyzing? I thought that the concern was that Western Christians (e.g. - Baptists, Roman Catholics) were making inroads in Russia, and the Orthodox Church was getting upset. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Calculus_of_Logic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/12 "2003-03-10T19:50:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\*Boy, that’s helpful. :rolleyes: \*\* LOL. you want some cheese with that whine? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/13 "2003-03-10T19:58:09Z")
Russia’s law is primarily aimed at Evengelical Christians. There are MANY muslims in Russia. Iraq has Christians (Taria Aziz is one) and (believe it or not) a few Jews. Saudi Arabia seems to be one of the most reprssive Islamic gov’ts now that the Taliban is gone. I’m not sure about the situation in Iran, but it can’t be much fun being a non-Muslim there (or being a Muslim, for that matter). I’m unaware of ANY “Christian” country that treats Muslims like non-Muslims are treated in Saudi Arabia. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/14 "2003-03-10T21:52:51Z")
Some would consider the United States to be a “radically Christian” country. Blue Laws, rooted in specific church doctrine instead of civil law, are enforced against non-Christians (although these are enforced on a county-level basis; no Federal law prohibits public dancing or buying alcohol on Sunday). “In God We Trust” is on the money, and public school teachers and police officers in rural areas regularly “witness” their charges. Deny it into the corn, but we live in a _de facto_ low church Protestant theocracy right here. > [@](#): > > \*\*I’m unaware of ANY “Christian” country that treats Muslims like non-Muslims are treated in Saudi Arabia. > \*\* John, if you’re in the US, ask your Muslim neighbors/co-workers if they’d back you up on that statement, esp. if they’ve been to an airportor traffic stop recently. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/15 "2003-03-11T03:05:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\*Russia, I believe, has recently passed a law restricting proslytyzing. \*\* What it specifically does is restrict groups not already registered as “religions” (or whatever the Term of Art is in Russia) from recruiting. Thus, Muslims are not restricted _de jure_. However, groups like the Scientologists (XENU) and the Jehova’s Witnesses are having problems over there after the law was passed. I don’t recall if the Mormons squeaked in under the wire or not. From what I’ve read, groups that operate low-key and aren’t aggressive recruiters end up being pretty much left alone. The authorities tend to go hammer-and-tongs after the aggressive recruiting groups. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/16 "2003-03-11T03:09:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krokodil \* > Deny it into the corn, but we live in a _de facto_ low church Protestant theocracy right here. I’ll deny it in the corn, in the square, in the town hall, and right here on the SDMB’s GQ forum. We do not live in any kind of theocracy in the United States. Since you’re the one making that assertion, please provide proof of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/17 "2003-03-11T05:20:39Z")
From Merriam-Webster: Main Entry: **the·oc·ra·cy** Pronunciation: thE-'ä-kr&-sE Function: _noun_ Inflected Form(s): _plural_ - **cies** Etymology: Greek _theokratia_, from _the-_ + _-kratia_ -cracy Date: 1622 **1** : government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided **2** : a state governed by a theocracy So I must agree with **Monty** , I don’t think you can reasonably describe the U.S. as a theocracy. ---
**Author:** ![Fang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fang)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/18 "2003-03-11T06:53:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krokodil \* > \*\*John, if you’re in the US, ask your Muslim neighbors/co-workers if they’d back you up on that statement, esp. if they’ve been to an airportor traffic stop recently. \*\* I don’t want to wander out of GQ territory here, but you’d do well to learn about the treatment of non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia before making a statement as patently ridiculous as that. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/19 "2003-03-11T12:12:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by d12 \* > \*\*Ireland just lost it’s title as a Christian country. I think they allowed other religious books however. \*\* Freedom of religion is guaranteed under article 44 of the Irish Constitution. [http://www.maths.tcd.ie/local/JUNK/Constitution/Articles40-44.html](http://www.maths.tcd.ie/local/JUNK/Constitution/Articles40-44.html) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170/20 "2003-03-11T13:55:03Z")
[mounting high horse] We may not live in a theocracy but I think much of our social policy is shaped by Puritan values, especially in the area of drug laws. We will be the last Western country to liberalize our drug policy, if we ever do, because the main reason people use illegal drugs is the pursuit of _pleasure_. We cite the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana, or the damage that X may cause, but I think the main reason for the revulsion toward recreational drugs is that its driven by pleasure seeking. We can’t even agree to allow medicinal pot because it might encourage healthy people to use it for pleasure. [/Dismounting high horse] I think it’s interesting that, IIRC, many European countries still have official state religions, but are not dominated by religious morality. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-christian-countries/160170.md?page=2)