State religion
State religion ( also official religion ) is one of a State towards other religions preferred religion. In Europe, after the beginning of the Reformation was the beginning of the 16th century, wars between Protestants and Catholics in the Peace of Augsburg, the principle Cuius regio, eius religio.
Types of state religions
State religions (or referred to in Europe as the state churches ) are associated to varying degrees with the state or dependent on him. The state identifies with a religion and recognize these as "his" religion.
The weakest expression of a state religion is the mention of the religious affiliation of the population, such as the French Constitution of 1830, with its determination of the predominantly Roman Catholic religious affiliation of the French. In countries with a Christian Orthodox national churches there is a high, historically grown identification of society with the local churches. This results in the fact sometimes close relations and support from the state without the national churches would specifically designated in the constitution as a state churches.
A slight significance is given when the State, although institutionally preferred a religion, but at the same time guarantees the individual freedom of religion without restriction. Examples of these are currently in particular England and Denmark until 2000, Sweden and Norway until 2012. In these states is / was the Anglican or Lutheran church part of the state and was also controlled by the state. The Queen of Great Britain is also head of the Anglican Church of England ( " Fidei Defensor " ), as well as the Queen of Denmark is also the head of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. Inner Ecclesiastical decisions are taken in the form of state laws, the churches are committed as part of the State to grant, for example, of religious freedom. From these examples it can be seen that with a state religion is not necessarily a lack of individual religious or ideological freedom is connected.
With the position as the state religion usually also accompanied by a financial preference of the respective religious community.
In some Islamic countries, the link between polity and religion is more extensive by the basis of the community are the religious rules of a branch of Islam. The content- identification with a religion goes hand in hand with the pursuit of other creditors, and especially the state religion of the apostate. Examples include the Yemen and Saudi Arabia in particular. The state has also the task of the "true" religion and to protect, preserve, and thus ensures the cohesion of society and the domestic political stability.
Special
- On the situation in antiquity see Roman religion
- Constantinian shift
- Section Imperial Church in the Roman Empire in Church History
- The Three Emperors edict of the year 380
- Since the First Vatican Council in the second half of the 19th century, it was explicit Catholic teaching that the Roman Catholic faith is to raise as the only true religion in Catholic -dominated states in the rank of a state religion. This concept was applied to the Second Vatican Council, by the freedom of religion, including public non-Catholic religion and the prohibition of discrimination were positively evaluated in the Declaration Dignitatis Humanae. In several southern European countries with a predominantly Catholic population appropriate constitutional arrangements were subsequently deleted, most recently in Italy in 1984., In other countries, such as Malta, Catholicism continues to be the state religion.
- In Germany was forbidden entry into force of the Weimar Constitution, in Article 137, paragraph 1, any state church. This prohibition was first and foremost impact on the Protestant churches that had indeed been largely solved in the 19th century by the state administration, however, continue to the respective sovereign as their " supreme bishop" were under the (so-called country- glorious church government ). Due to the state church ban these state government of the Church was deprived of the basis. Its status as a public corporation, was kept 5 WRV under Article 137, paragraph and explicitly open to other religious and philosophical communities.
- In Switzerland, there is neither federal nor cantonal level actual state religion (s). The jurisdiction of the State Church Law is located on the cantonal level, and accordingly, each canton various denominations and religions (Protestant Reformed, Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Jewish) public law recognize ( regional churches ). The ratios thus correspond more or less to those in Germany by certain religious communities a formal prominent position can be attributed without so that others would be restricted and therefore discriminated against. A " strict " separation of state and religious communities was carried out in the cantons of Geneva and Neuchatel, where, following the example of France all religious communities are placed under private law.
- In Liechtenstein, the Roman Catholic Church is a country church and enjoys a prominent religion of the full protection of the state. However, a bill was introduced in June 2011, which provides for the equality of all religious communities and the end of the state religion.
- Norway has since 2012 so far no state religion, as the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Den norske kirke ) is no longer figures as a " state church ", but as " people's church ". Practically this is indeed an institutional separation - this is about the Monarch no longer head of the church, and the church appoints its bishops themselves - but on the other hand, the church is financed by the state, and its employees remain officers. The independence of the Swedish Church in 2000 went further by this church is financed by taxes themselves.
- In Malta, the Roman Catholic Church is the state religion. In addition to a preferred status, for example, abortions and are strictly prohibited " topless bathing " and punishable by law. On 29 May 2011, the Maltese voted in a referendum on divorce.
- The Russian Orthodox Church enjoyed since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, preferential treatment in Russia. Your gehabten held until the Revolution in 1917 status of a state religion, however, it has not recovered.
- In the Ottoman Empire was the Sunni Hanafi school of Islamic law Constitutional law school.
- In the United States of America or in their precursors, the former colonies, the separation of church and state was guaranteed in the 17th century. However, Christianity has played a significant role in the entire history of the United States to this day. People who belonged to no Christian community, did not have the same rights as Christians. Today it is rarely at a disadvantage. The evangelical free churches have sometimes a considerable influence on politics.
- In Ethiopia church and state were separated in 1994. Before 1974, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was strongly preferred status. Particularly the Muslim minority was exposed to strong persecution.
List of states with state religion
- Catholic Christianity
- Orthodoxy
- Evangelical Christianity
- Anglican Christianity
- Theravada Buddhism
- Tibetan Buddhism
- Sunni Islam
- Shi'ite Islam
- Ibaditischer Islam
- No state religion