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Theonomy is the idea that God's laws (as interpreted by a specific religious outlook) must be applied to all spheres of public and private everyday life: not only religious mandates – but also political, social, and cultural rules. In this sense, theonomy is generally considered an expansive version of theocracy, which involves conforming civil law to a specific religious group's idea of what is mandated by God's laws.
An example of a group that is theonomic is Christian Reconstructionism, one of the variants of Dominion Theology.
Supporters of theonomy sometimes argue that they would only apply civil sanctions to actions, and not mere beliefs or identities. For example, some Christian Reconstructionists say they would not punish homosexuals who were celibate; but they interpret the Bible as sanctioning civil punishment up to the death penalty for homosexual acts.
See also
References
Barron, Bruce. 1992. Heaven on Earth? The Social & Political Agendas of Dominion Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan.
Clarkson, Frederick. 1997. Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy. Monroe, Maine: Common Courage.
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