Separation of church and state

The separation of church and state is a concept and philosophy in modern thought and practice, whereby the structures of state or national government are proposed as needing to be separate from those of religious institutions. The concept has long been a topic of political debate throughout history. The term "church" in Western civilization is usually associated with Christianity. However, the phrase as a whole refers to religion and religious institutions in general and its/their relationship to government. In countries where other religions are dominant, the words mosque, temple, or synagogue are often substituted.

History

Ancient

:Main article: Separation of church and state (ancient)

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While varying greatly from state to state, the interaction between Church and State could at times become total. Roman emperors were considered divine, and controlled the state religion. At various times in the first three centuries of the Christian era, admitted membership in the Christian community was punishable by death (e.g., Justin Martyr under Marcus Aurelius) before the conversion of Constantine I (emperor) in 313 — primarily because a Christian, in not recognizing the divinity of the emperor and not accepting the state religion, was therefore a political enemy of the state. According to the Hebrew Bible, ancient Israel was also a theocracy.

Related Topics:
Roman - Justin Martyr - Marcus Aurelius - Constantine I (emperor) - Hebrew Bible - Israel - Theocracy

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Medieval

:Main article: Separation of church and state (medieval)

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In the West, the separation of church and state during the medieval period saw monarchs who ruled by divine right and papal authorities who claimed to wield God's earthly authority. This unresolved contradiction in ultimate control of the state led to power struggles and crises of leadership that resulted in a number of important events in the development of the west.

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Modern

:Main article: Separation of church and state (modern)

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In a number of countries in the modern world, many countries have varying degrees of separation of church and state. Some states are more strict than others in disallowing church influence on the state. In some countries (such as Iran), however, the two institutions are heavily interconnected.

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