2. How does your proposal fit the - "Not one instance of torture or extermination to be found in the NT church."
That whole thing is kind of confusing.
Where in the world do you see my arguing FOR killing or torture?
My point is that this is NOT what is done in the NT and that there IS no comparison between the orders given in the NT to the theocracy of the time of Joshuah.
Common DHK there is no logic to your statement.
Mary of Tudor was Catholic and since she was regent England was Catholic.
Which is why Elizabeth had no worries of Excommunication because she was protestant and when she was regent England was protestant.
And Since Charles Was Catholic the puritans revolted and put Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector and since he was protestant and Charles was in exile England stayed protestant.
BTW both Elizabeth and Cromwell killed Catholics as well.
So how does your argument make sense?
Take the Presidents of the U.S., the Prime-ministers of Canada. We don't have "state-religions." Without a state-religion such cruelty cannot be enforced. One doesn't have the backing of the church behind him. Even Calvin had a state-church, and was able to get away with that which would be considered atrocious crimes in our society. State-churches are blatantly wrong and only give rise to dictatorial authority of the cruelest nature under the guise of religion.
We live in an age of seperation of Church and State.
Such cruelty based on religion cannot be enforced which makes us a bit more enlightened than the systems we replaced.
So I agree with you there is a need to seperated the state and civil authorites from religion.
Until at least Christ returns and rules judiciously.