This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2021) |
Astate religion(also calledofficial religion) is areligionorcreedofficially endorsed by asovereign state.A state with an official religion (also known asconfessional state), while not asecular state,is not necessarily atheocracy.State religions are official or government-sanctioned establishments of a religion, but the state does not need to be under the control of theclergy(as in a theocracy), nor is the state-sanctioned religion necessarily under the control of the state.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/State_Religions.svg/350px-State_Religions.svg.png)
None (Secularism) |
Official religions have been known throughouthuman historyin almost all types of cultures, reaching into theAncient Near Eastandprehistory.The relation ofreligious cultand the state was discussed by theancient LatinscholarMarcus Terentius Varro,under the term oftheologia civilis(lit. 'civic theology'). The first state-sponsoredChristian denominationwas theArmenian Apostolic Church,established in 301 CE.[28]InChristianity,as the termchurchis typically applied to a place of worship forChristiansor organizations incorporating such ones, the termstate churchis associated with Christianity as sanctioned by the government, historically thestate church of the Roman Empirein the last centuries of the Empire's existence, and is sometimes used to denote a specific modern national branch of Christianity. Closely related to state churches areecclesiae,which are similar but carry a more minor connotation.
In theMiddle East,the majority of states with a predominantlyMuslimpopulation haveIslamas their official religion, though the degree of religious restrictions on citizens' everyday lives varies by country. Rulers ofSaudi Arabiause religious power, whileIran's secular presidents are supposed to follow the decisions of religious authorities since the1979 Islamic Revolution.Turkey,which also has Muslim-majority population, became a secular country afterAtatürk's Reforms,although unlike theRussian Revolutionof the same time period, it did not result in the adoption ofstate atheism.
The degree to which an official national religion is imposed upon citizens by the state in contemporary society varies considerably; from high as inSaudi ArabiaandIran,to none at all as inGreenland,Denmark,England,Iceland,andGreece(in Europe, the state religion might be called in English, theestablished church).
Types
editThe degree and nature of state backing for denomination or creed designated as a state religion can vary. It can range from mere endorsement (with or without financial support) withfreedom for other faiths to practice,to prohibiting any competing religious body from operating and to persecuting the followers of other sects.[29]In Europe, competition betweenCatholicandProtestantdenominations for state sponsorship in the 16th century evolved the principleCuius regio, eius religio(states follow the religion of the ruler) embodied in the text of the treaty that marked thePeace of Augsburgin 1555. InEngland,Henry VIIIbroke with Rome in 1534, being declared theSupreme Head of the Church of England,[b]the official religion of England continued to be "Catholicism without the Pope" until after his death in 1547.[31]
In some cases, an administrative region may sponsor and fund a set of religious denominations; such is the case inAlsace-MoselleinFranceunder itslocal law,following the pre-1905 French concordatory legal system and patterns inGermany.[32]
State churches
editA state church (or "established church" ) is a state religion established by a state for use exclusively by that state. In the case of astate church,the state has absolute control over the church, but in the case of astate religion,the church is ruled by an exterior body; for example, in the case of Catholicism, theVaticanhas control over the church. As of 2024, there are only five state churches left.[33]
Disestablishment
editDisestablishment is the process of repealing a church's status as an organ of the state. In a state where an established church is in place, opposition to such a move may be described asantidisestablishmentarianism.This word is, however, most usually associated with the debate on the position of theAnglican Communionin theBritish Isles:theChurch of Ireland(disestablished in1871), theChurch in Wales(disestablished in1920), and the Church of England itself (which remains established in England).[citation needed]
Current states with a state religion
editBuddhism
editGovernments whereBuddhism,either a specific form of it, or Buddhism as a whole, has been established as an official religion:
- Bhutan:TheConstitutiondefines Buddhism as the "spiritual heritage of Bhutan".The Constitution of Bhutanis based onBuddhist philosophy.[34]It also mandates that theDruk Gyalpo(King) should appoint theJe KhenpoandDratshang Lhentshog(The Commission for Monastic Affairs).[35]
- Cambodia:TheConstitutiondeclared Buddhism as the official religion of the country.[36]About 98% of Cambodia's population is Buddhist.[37]
- Myanmar:Section 361 of theConstitutionstates that "The Union recognizes special position of Buddhism as the faith professed by the great majority of the citizens of the Union."[38]The 1961 State Religion Promotion and Support Act requires: to teach Buddhist lessons in schools, to give priority to Buddhistmonasteriesin founding of primary schools, to makeUposathadays holidays duringVassamonths, to broadcast Buddhist sermons by State media on Uposatha days, and other promotion and supports for Buddhism as State Religion.[39]
- Sri Lanka:The constitution of Sri Lanka states under Chapter II, Article 9, "The Republic of Sri Lanka declares Buddhism as the state religion and accordingly it shall be the duty of the Head of State and Head of Government to protect and foster theBuddha Sasana".[40]
In some countries, Buddhism is not recognized as a state religion, but holds special status:
- Thailand:Article 67 of theThai constitution:"The State should support and protect Buddhism". In supporting and protecting Buddhism, the State should promote and support education and dissemination of dharmic principles of Theravada Buddhism, and shall have measures and mechanisms to prevent Buddhism from being undermined in any form. The State should also encourage Buddhists to participate in implementing such measures or mechanisms.[41]
- Laos:According to the Lao Constitution, Buddhism is given special privilege in the country. The state respects and protects all the lawful activities of Buddhism.[42]
- Kalmykia(Russia): The local Government supports Buddhism and also encourages Buddhist teachings and traditions. It also builds various Buddhist temples and sites. Various efforts are taken by the Government for the revival of Buddhism in the republic.[43][44][45]
Christianity
editThe following states recognize some form ofChristianityas their state or official religion or recognize a special status for it (by denomination):
Non-denominational Christianity
edit- Samoa:In June 2017, Parliament voted to amend the wording of Article1 of the constitution, thereby making Christianity the state religion. Part 1, Section (1)(3) reads "Samoa is a Christian nation founded on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." The status of the religion had previously only been mentioned in the preamble, which Prime MinisterTuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoiconsidered legally inadequate.[46][47]
- Zambia:The preamble to theZambian Constitution of 1991declares Zambia to be "a Christian nation", while also guaranteeing freedom of religion.[48]
Catholicism
editJurisdictions whereCatholicismhas been established as a state or official religion:
- Costa Rica:Article 75 of the Constitution of Costa Ricaconfirms that "The Catholic and Apostolic Religion is the religion of the State, which contributes to its maintenance, without preventing the free exercise in the Republic of other forms of worship that are not opposed to universal morality or good customs."[49]
- Holy See:It is anelective,theocratic(orsacerdotal),absolute monarchyruled by thePope,who is also theVicar of Christ.[50]The highest state functionaries are allCatholicclergy of various national origins. It is the sovereign territory of theHoly See(Latin:Sancta Sedes) and the location of the Pope's official residence, referred to as theApostolic Palace.
- Liechtenstein:TheConstitution of Liechtensteindescribes the Catholic Church as the state religion and enjoying "the full protection of the State". The constitution does however ensure that people of other faiths "shall be entitled to practice their creeds and to hold religious services to the extent consistent with morality and public order".[51]
- Malta:Article 2 of theConstitution of Maltadeclares that "the religion of Malta is the Catholic and Apostolic Religion".[52]
- Monaco:Article 9 of theConstitution of Monacodescribes the "Catholic, andapostolicreligion "as the religion of the state.[53]
Jurisdictions that give various degrees of recognition in their constitutions to Roman Catholicism without establishing it as the State religion:
- Andorra[54]
- Argentina:Article 2 of theConstitution of Argentinaexplicitly states that the government supports the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith, but the constitution does not establish a state religion.[55]Before its 1994 amendment, the Constitution stated that the President of the Republic must be a Roman Catholic.
- East Timor:While theConstitution of East Timorenshrines the principles offreedom of religionandseparation of church and statein Section 45 Comma 1, it also acknowledges "the participation of the Catholic Church in the process of national liberation" in its preamble (although this has no legal value).[56]
- El Salvador:Although Article 3 of theConstitution of El Salvadorstates that "no restrictions shall be established that are based on differences of nationality, race, sex or religion", Article 26 states that the state recognizes theCatholic Churchand gives it legal preference.[57][58]
- Guatemala:TheConstitution of Guatemalarecognises the juridical personality of theCatholic Church.Other churches, cults, entities, and associations of religious character will obtain the recognition of their juridical personality in accordance with the rules of their institution.[59]
- Italy:TheConstitution of Italydoes not establish a state religion, but recognizes the state and the Catholic Church as "independent and sovereign, each within its own sphere".[60]The Constitution additionally reserves to the Catholic faith singular position in regard to the organization of worship, as opposed to all other confessions.[61]
- Panama:TheConstitution of Panamarecognizes Catholicism as "the religion of the majority" of citizens but does not designate it as the official state religion.[62]
- Paraguay:TheConstitution of Paraguayrecognizes the Catholic Church's role in the nation'shistoricalandculturalformation.[63]
- Peru:TheConstitution of Perurecognizes the Catholic Church as an important element in thehistorical,cultural,and moral formation of Peru and lends it its cooperation.[64]
- Poland:TheConstitution of Polandstates that "The relations between the Republic of Poland and the Roman Catholic Church shall be determined by international treaty concluded with the Holy See, and by statute."[65]
- Spain:TheConstitution of Spainof 1978 abolishedCatholicismas the official state religion, while recognizing the role it plays in Spanish society.[66]
Eastern Orthodoxy
editThe jurisdictions below give various degrees of recognition in their constitutions toEastern Orthodoxy,but without establishing it as the state religion:
- Greece:TheChurch of Greeceis recognized by the Greek Constitution as the prevailing religion in Greece.[67]However, this provision does not give exclusivity of worship to the Church of Greece, while all other religions are recognized as equal and may be practiced freely.[68]
- Bulgaria:In the Bulgarian Constitution, Eastern Orthodoxy is recognized as "the traditional religion" of the Bulgarian people, but the state itself remains secular.[69]
- Cyprus:TheConstitution of Cyprusstates: "The AutocephalousGreek-OrthodoxChurch of Cyprusshall continue to have the exclusive right of regulating and administering its own internal affairs and property in accordance with the Holy Canons and its Charter in force for the time being and the Greek Communal Chamber shall not act inconsistently with such right. "[70][c]
- Finland:Both theFinnish Orthodox Churchand theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Finlandare "national churches".[71][72]
- Georgia:TheGeorgian Orthodox Churchhas a constitutional agreement with the state, the constitution recognizing "the special role of the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia in the history of Georgia and its independence from the state".[73](See alsoConcordat of 2002)
Protestantism
editThe following states recognize some form ofProtestantismas their state or official religion:
Anglicanism
editThe AnglicanChurch of Englandis the established church in England as well as all three of theCrown Dependencies:
- England:TheChurch of Englandis the established church in England, but not in theUnited Kingdomas a whole.[74]It is the only established Anglican church worldwide. The AnglicanChurch in Wales,theScottish Episcopal Churchand theChurch of Irelandare not established churches and they are independent of the Church of England. TheBritish monarchis the titularSupreme Governor of the Church of England.The 26 most senior bishops in the Church of England areLords Spiritualand have seats in theHouse of Lordsof theParliament of the United Kingdom.
- Guernsey:TheChurch of Englandis the established church in theBailiwick of Guernsey,and the leader of the Church of England in the territory is theDean of Guernsey.[75]
- Isle of Man:TheChurch of Englandis the established church on the Isle of Man. TheBishop of Sodor and Manis an ex officio member of theLegislative Council(the upper house ofTynwald).[76]
- Jersey:TheChurch of Englandis the established church inJersey,and the leader of the church on the island is theDean of Jersey,a non-voting member of theStates of Jersey.
Calvinism
edit- Scotland:TheChurch of Scotlandis thenational church,but not the United Kingdom as a whole.[77]Whilst it is the national church, it 'is not State controlled' and the monarch is not the 'supreme governor' as in the Church of England.[77]
- Tuvalu:TheChurch of Tuvaluis the state religion, although in practice this merely entitles it to "the privilege of performing special services on major national events".[78]TheConstitution of Tuvaluguarantees freedom of religion, including the freedom to practice, the freedom to change religion, the right not to receive religious instruction at school or to attend religious ceremonies at school, and the right not to "take an oath or make an affirmation that is contrary to his religion or belief".[79]
Nordic Countries
editLutheranism
editJurisdictions where aLutheranchurch has been fully or partially established as a state recognized religion include theNordic States.
- Denmark:Section 4 of theConstitution of Denmarkconfirms theChurch of Denmarkas the established church.[80]
- Faroe Islands:TheChurch of the Faroe Islandsis the state church of theFaroe Islands,anautonomous administrative divisionwithin theDanish Realm.[81]
- Greenland:The Church of Denmark is the state church ofGreenland,an autonomous administrative division within the Danish Realm.[82]
- Iceland:TheConstitution of Icelandconfirms theChurch of Icelandas the state church of Iceland.[83]
- Norway:Until 2012, theChurch of Norwaywas not a separate legal entity from the government. It was disestablished and became anational church,a legally distinct entity from the state with special constitutional status. The King of Norway is required by the Constitution to be a member of the Church of Norway, and the church is regulated by special canon law, unlike other religions.[84]
Jurisdictions that give various degrees of recognition in their constitutions to Lutheranism without establishing it as the state religion:
- Finland:TheEvangelical Lutheran Church of Finlandhas a special relationship with the Finnish state, its internal structure being described in a special law, the Church Act.[71]The Church Act can be amended only by a decision of the synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and subsequent ratification by the Parliament of Finland. The Church Act is protected by the Constitution of Finland and the state cannot change the Church Act without changing the constitution. The church has the power to tax its members. The state collects these taxes for the church, for a fee. On the other hand, the church is required to give a burial place for everyone in its graveyards.[71]The President of Finland also decides the themes for intercession days. The church does not consider itself a state church, as the Finnish state does not have the power to influence its internal workings or its theology, although it has a veto in those changes of the internal structure which require changing the Church Act. Neither does the Finnish state accord any precedence to Lutherans or the Lutheran faith in its own acts.
- Sweden:TheChurch of Swedenwas the state church of Sweden between 1527 when King Gustav Vasa broke all ties with Rome and 2000 when the state officially became secular. Much like in Finland, it does have a special relation to the Swedish state unlike any other religious organizations. For example, there is a special law that regulates certain aspects of the church[85]and the members of the royal family are required to belong to it in order to have a claim to the line of succession. A majority of the population still belongs to the Church of Sweden.[86]
Other/mixed
edit- Armenia:TheArmenian Apostolic Churchhas a constitutional agreement with theState:"The Republic of Armenia shall recognise the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as a national church, in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of their national culture and preservation of their national identity."[87]
- Dominican Republic:The constitution of the Dominican Republic specifies that there is no state church and provides for freedom of religion and belief. Aconcordatwith theHoly Seedesignates Catholicism as the official religion and extends special privileges to the Catholic Church not granted to other religious groups. These include the legal recognition of church law, use of public funds to underwrite some church expenses, and complete exoneration from customs duties.[88]
- Haiti:While Catholicism has not been the state religion since 1987, a 19th-centuryconcordatwith theHoly Seecontinues to confer preferential treatment to theCatholic Church,in the form of stipends for clergy and financial support to churches and religious schools. The Catholic Church also retains the right to appoint certain amounts of clergy in Haiti without the government's consent.[89][90]
- Hungary:The preamble to theHungarian Constitution of 2011describes Hungary as "part of Christian Europe" and acknowledges "the role of Christianity in preserving nationhood", while Article VII provides that "the State shall cooperate with the Churches for community goals." However, the constitution also guarantees freedom of religion and separation of church and state.[91]
- Nicaragua:TheNicaraguan Constitution of 1987states that the country has no official religion, but defines "Christian values" as one of the "principles of the Nicaraguan nation".[92]
- Portugal:Although Church and State are formally separate, theCatholic Church in Portugalstill receives certain privileges.[93]
Islam
editManyMuslim-majority countrieshave constitutionally established Islam, or a specific form of it, as a state religion.Proselytism(converting people away from Islam) is often illegal in such states.[94][95][96][97]
- Afghanistan:Officially, Afghanistan has continuously been an Islamic state under various constitutions since at least 1987.[98]
- Algeria:"Islam shall be the religion of the State."[99][100]
- Bangladesh:Article (2A) of theConstitution of Bangladeshdeclares: "Islam is the state religion of the republic".[101]
- Bahrain:"The religion of the State is Islam."[102][103]
- Brunei:Article 3 of theConstitution of Brunei:"The official religion of Brunei Darussalam shall be the Islamic Religion... "[104]
- Djibouti:Article 1 of theConstitution of Djibouti:"Islam is the Religion of the State."[105]
- Egypt:Article 2 of theEgyptian Constitution of 2014:"Islam is the religion of the State".[106]
- Iran:Article 12 of theConstitution of Iran:"The official religion of Iran is Islam and theTwelverJa'farî school[in usul al-Dîn and fiqh], and this principle will remain eternally immutable. "[107]Islam has been Iran's state religion since 1501 dating back to theSafavid dynastyand has continued ever since, excluding the period of breaks in thePahlavi dynasty.
- Iraq:Article 2 of theConstitution of Iraq:"Islam is the official religion of the State and is a foundation source of legislation... "[108]
- Jordan:Article 2 of theConstitution of Jordan:"Islam is the religion of the State and Arabic is its official language."[109]
- Kuwait:Article 2 of theConstitution of Kuwait:"The religion of the State is Islam and Islamic Law shall be a main source of legislation."[110]
- Libya:Article 1 of theLibyan interim Constitutional Declaration:"Islam is the Religion of the State and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Shari'a)."[111]
- Malaysia:Article 3 of theFederal Constitution of Malaysia:"Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation."[112]
- Maldives:Article 10 of theMaldives's Constitution of 2008:"The religion of the State of the Maldives is Islam. Islam shall be the one of the bases of all the laws of the Maldives."[113]
- Mauritania:Article 5 of theConstitution of Mauritania:"Islam is the religion of the people and of the State."[114]
- Morocco:Article 3 of theConstitution of Morocco:"Islam is the religion of the State, which guarantees to all the free exercise of beliefs [cultes]."[115]
- Oman:Article 2 of theConstitution of Oman:"The religion of the State is Islam and Islamic Sharia is the basis for legislation."[116]
- Pakistan:Article 2 of theConstitution of Pakistan:"Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan."[117]
- Palestine:Article 4 of theBasic Law of the State of Palestine:"Islam is the official religion in Palestine. Respect and sanctity of all other heavenly religions shall be maintained."[118]
- Qatar:Article 1 of theConstitution of Qatar:"Qatar is an independent sovereign Arab State. Its religion is Islam and Shari'a law shall be a main source of its legislations."[119]
- Saudi Arabia:Article 1 of theBasic Law of Saudi Arabia:"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a sovereign Arab Islamic State. Its religion is Islam."[120]
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic:Article 2 of theConstitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republicdeclares that Islam is the state religion and law origin.[3]
- Somalia:Article 2 of theProvisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia:"Islam is the religion of the State."[121]
- United Arab Emirates:Article 7 of theConstitution of the United Arab Emirates:"Islam shall be the official religion of the Union."[122]
- Yemen:Article 2 of theConstitution of Yemen:"Islam is the religion of the state, and Arabic is its official language."[123]
In some countries, Islam is not recognized as a state religion, but holds special status:
- Tajikistan:Although there is a separation of religion from politics, certain aspects of law also privilege Islam. One such law declares "Islam to be a traditional religion of Tajikistan, with more rights and privileges given to Islamic organizations than to religious groups of non-Muslim origin".[124]
- Tunisia:Article 5 of the Constitution declares that "Tunisia is part of theMuslim world,and the state alone must work to achieve the goals of pure Islam in preserving honourable life of religious freedom ". Although, Islam has been given special privileges by the Constitution, though it is no longer the state religion.[125][126]
- Turkmenistan:The Constitution claims to uphold a secular system in which religious and state institutions are separate. However, in Turkmenistan, the state actively privileges a form of traditional Islam. The culture, including Islam, is a key facet, contributes to the Turkmen national identity. The state encourages the conceptualization of "Turkmen Islam".[127]
- Uzbekistan:Since independence, Islam has taken on an altogether new role in the nation-building process in Uzbekistan. The government affords Islam in special status and declared it as a national heritage and a moral guideline.[128]
Judaism
edit- Israel:Since theProclamation of Israeli independence in 1948,Judaism is defined in several of its laws as a "Jewish and democratic state"(medina yehudit ve-demokratit). However, the term "Jewish"is apolysemethat can describe the Jewish peopleas either an ethnic or a religious group.The debate about the meaning of the term "Jewish" and its legal and social applications is one of the most profound issues with which Israeli society deals. The problem of the status of religion in Israel, even though it is relevant to all religions, usually refers to the status ofJudaismin Israeli society. Thus, even though from a constitutional point of view Judaism is not the state religion in Israel, its status nevertheless determines relations between religion and state and the extent to which religion influences the political center.[129]TheLaw of Return,passed on 5 July 1950, gives the globalJewish diasporathe right to relocate to Israel and acquireIsraeli citizenship.Section - (1) of that law declares that "Every Jew has the right to come to this country as anOleh"('immigrant'). In the Law of Return, the State of Israel gave effect to theZionist movement's "credo" which called for the establishment of Israel as aSovereignJewish statewithDemocraticsetups, ideals and values.[130]The State of Israel supports religious institutions, particularlyOrthodox Jewishones, and recognizes the "religious communities" as carried over from those recognized under the British Mandate—in turn derived from the pre-1917 Ottoman system ofmillets.These are Jewish and Christian (Eastern Orthodox,Latin Catholic,Gregorian-Armenian,Armenian-Catholic,Syriac Catholic,Chaldean,Melkite Catholic,Maronite Catholic,andSyriac Orthodox). The fact that the Muslim population was not defined as a religious community does not affect the rights of the Muslim community to practice their faith. At the end of the period covered by the 2009 U.S. International Religious Freedom Report, several of these denominations were pending official government recognition; however, the Government has allowed adherents of not officially recognized groups the freedom to practice. In 1961, legislation gave Muslim Shari'a courts exclusive jurisdiction in matters of personal status. Three additional religious communities have subsequently been recognized by Israeli law: theDruze(prior under Islamic jurisdiction), the Evangelical Episcopal Church, and followers of theBaháʼí Faith.[131]
Political religions
editIn some countries, there is apolitical ideologysponsored by the government that may be calledpolitical religion.[132]
Multiple religion recognition
edit- China:The government of China officially espousesstate atheism,[133]and officially recognizes only five religions:Buddhism,Taoism,Islam,Christianity(CatholicismandProtestantism).[134]Despite limitations on certain forms of religious expression and assembly, religion is not banned, and religious freedom is nominally protected under the Chinese constitution. Among the general Chinese population, there are a wide variety of religious practices.[135]The Chinese government's attitude to religion is one of skepticism and non-promotion.[135][136][137][138]
- France:Thelocal law in Alsace-Moselleaccords official status to four religions in this specific region of France:Judaism,Roman Catholicism,LutheranismandCalvinism.The law is a remnant of the NapoleonicConcordat of 1801,which was abrogated in the rest of France by thelaw of 1905on theseparation of church and state.However, at the time, Alsace-Moselle had beenannexed by Germany.The Concordat, therefore, remained in force in these areas, and it was not abrogated when France regained control of the region in 1918. Therefore, the separation of church and state, part of the French concept ofLaïcité,does not apply in this region.[139]
- Indonesiais officially apresidential republicand aunitary statethat does not declare or designate a state religion. Officially,the governmentrecognizes six religions:Islam,Protestantism,Catholicism,Buddhism,Hinduism,andConfucianism,[140]as well as traditional and indigenous beliefs.[141]Pancasilacomes from theJakarta Charterwhose first article was changed from "Divinity, with the obligation to carry out Islamic law for its adherents" to "the One Divinity", to respect other religions. TheConstitution of Indonesiaguarantees freedom of religion and the practice of other religions and beliefs, including traditional animistic beliefs. Indonesians who are practicing other unrecognized religions such asSikhsandJainsare often counted as "Hindu" while Indonesians practicingOrthodoxyare often counted as "Christian" for governmental purposes.[citation needed]Atheism,although not prosecuted, is discouraged by the state ideology ofPancasila.In addition, the province ofAcehreceives a special status and a higher degree of autonomy, in which it may enact laws (qanuns) based on theShariaand enforce it, especially to its Muslim residents.
- Lebanon:There are 18 officially recognized religious groups in Lebanon, each with its own family law legislation and set of religious courts.[142]Under the terms of an agreement known as theNational Pactbetween the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, thepresident of the countrymust be aMaronite,thePrime Ministermust be aSunni,and theSpeaker of Parliamentmust be aShia.[143]
- Luxembourgis a secular state, but the Grand Duchy recognizes and supports several denominations, including theCatholic Church,Greek Orthodox,Russian Orthodox,Romanian Orthodox,Serbian Orthodox,Anglicanand someProtestantismdenominations as well as toJewishcongregations.[144]
- Nepalis a secular nation, and secularism in Nepal under the interim constitution (Part 1, Article 4) is defined as "religious and cultural freedom, along with the protection of religion and culture handed down from time immemorial." That is, "the state government is bound for protecting and fostering Hindu religion" while maintaining "religious" and "cultural" freedom throughout the nation as fundamental rights.
- Russia:Though asecular stateunder the constitution, Russia is often said to haveRussian Orthodoxyas thede factonational religion, despite other minorities: "The Russian Orthodox Church is de facto privileged religion of the state, claiming the right to decide which other religions or denominations are to be granted the right of registration".[145][146][147][148][149][150][151]
Islam in Russiais recognized under the law and by Russian political leaders as one of Russia's traditional religions, Islam is a part ofRussian historical heritage,and issubsidizedby the Russian government.[152]The position of Islam as a major Russian religion, alongsideOrthodox Christianity,dates from the time ofCatherine the Great,who sponsoredIslamic clericsand scholarship through theOrenburg Assembly.[153]
- Singaporeis officially a secular country and does not have a state religion, and has been named in one study as the "most religiously diverse nation in the world", with no religious group forming a majority.[154]However, the government gives official recognition to ten different religions, namelyBuddhism,Christianity,Islam,Hinduism,Taoism,Sikhism,Judaism,Zoroastrianism,Jainism,and theBaháʼí Faith,[155]and Singapore's penal code explicitly prohibits "wounding religious feelings". TheJehovah's WitnessesandUnification Churchare also banned in Singapore, as the government deems them to be a threat to national security.
- Switzerlandis officially secular at the federal level but 24 of the 26 cantons support both theSwiss Reformed Churchand theRoman Catholic Churchin various ways.
- Turkey:The Republic of Turkey is officially asecular country.None of the past and the latestconstitutionsrecognizes anofficial religionnor promotes any.[156]But; theDirectorate of Religious Affairs,an official state institution established byMustafa Kemal Atatürkin 1924,[157]expresses opinions only on religious matters regardingSunniinstitutions.[158]The directorate regulates the operation of the country's hundreds of thousands of registered mosques and employs local and provincial imams (who are civil servants) who are appointed and paid by the state,[159]whilst other sects of Islam with a sizeable minority such asAlevismare not being regulated nor being funded by the directorate.[160]
In addition, theTreaty of Lausanneexplicitly guarantees the security and protection of bothGreek and Armenian Orthodox Christian minoritiesand theTurkish-Jews.Their religious institutions are being recognized officially by the state.[161][162]
Former state religions
editRoman religion and Christianity
editIn Rome, the office ofPontifex Maximuscame to be reserved for the Emperor, who was occasionallydeclared a godposthumously, or sometimes during his reign. Failure to worship the Emperor as a god was at times punishable by death, as the Roman government sought to link emperor worship with loyalty to the Empire. Many Christians and Jews were subject to persecution, torture and death in the Roman Empire because it was against their beliefs to worship the Emperor.[citation needed]
In 311, EmperorGalerius,on his deathbed, declared a religious indulgence to Christians throughout the Roman Empire, focusing on the ending of anti-Christian persecution.Constantine IandLicinius,the twoAugusti,by theEdict of Milanof 313, enacted a law allowing religious freedom to everyone within the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the Edict of Milan cited that Christians may openly practice their religion unmolested and unrestricted, and provided that properties taken from Christians be returned to them unconditionally. Although the Edict of Milan allowed religious freedom throughout the Empire, it did not abolish nor disestablish the Roman state cult (Roman polytheistic paganism). The Edict of Milan was written in such a way as to implore the blessings of the deity.[citation needed]
Constantine called up theFirst Council of Nicaeain 325, although he was not a baptized Christian until years later. Despite enjoying considerable popular support, Christianity was still not the official state religion in Rome, although it was in some neighboring states such asArmenia,Iberia,andAksum.[citation needed]
Roman religion(NeoplatonicHellenism) was restored for a time by the EmperorJulianfrom 361 to 363. Julian does not appear to have reinstated the persecutions of the earlierRoman emperors.[citation needed]
CatholicChristianity, as opposed to Arianism and other ideologies deemedheretical,was declared to be thestate religion of the Roman Empireon 27 February 380[167]by the decreeDe fide catolicaof EmperorTheodosius I.[168]
Han dynasty Confucianism
editIn China, theHan dynasty(206 BCE – 220 CE) advocatedConfucianismas thede factostate religion, establishing tests based on Confucian texts as an entrance requirement into government service—although, in fact, the "Confucianism" advocated by the Han emperors may be more properly termed a sort of ConfucianLegalismor "State Confucianism". This sort of Confucianism continued to be regarded by the emperors, with a few notable exceptions, as a form of state religion from this time until thecollapseof theChinese monarchyin 1912. Note, however, there is a debate over whether Confucianism (includingNeo-Confucianism) is a religion or purely a philosophical system.[169]
Yuan dynasty Buddhism
editDuring the Mongol-ledYuan dynastyof China (1271–1368 CE),Tibetan Buddhismwas established as thede factostate religion by theKublai Khan,the founder of the Yuan dynasty. The top-level department and government agency known as theBureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs(Xuanzheng Yuan) was set up inKhanbaliq(modernBeijing) to superviseBuddhist monksthroughout the empire. Since Kublai Khan only esteemed theSakyasect of Tibetan Buddhism, other religions became less important. Before the end of the Yuan dynasty, 14 leaders of the Sakya sect had held the post ofImperial Preceptor(Dishi), thereby enjoying special power.[170]
Golden Horde and Ilkhanate
editThe Mongol rulersGhazanof Ilkhanate andUzbegof Golden Horde converted toIslamin 1295 CE because of the Muslim Mongol emirNawruzand in 1313 CE because ofSufiBukharansayyidandsheikhIbn Abdul Hamidrespectively. Their official favoring of Islam as the state religion coincided with a marked attempt to bring the regime closer to the non-Mongol majority of the regions they ruled. In Ilkhanate,ChristianandJewishsubjects lost their equal status with Muslims and again had to pay the poll tax; Buddhists had the starker choice of conversion or expulsion.[171]
Former state churches in British North America
editOther states
edit- TheState of Deseretwas an unrecognised provisionalstateof the United States, proposed in 1849, byMormonsettlers inSalt Lake City.The provisional state existed for slightly over two years, but attempts to gain recognition by the United States government floundered for various reasons. TheUtah Territorywhich was then founded was under Mormon control, and repeated attempts to gain statehood met resistance, in part due to concerns that the principle of separation of church and state conflicted with the practice of members ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsplacing their highest value on "following counsel" in virtually all matters relating to their church-centered lives. The state ofUtahwas eventually admitted to the union on 4January 1896, after the various issues had been resolved.[172]
- Kingdom of Hawaii:From 1862 to 1893 theChurch of Hawaii,an Anglican body, was the official state and national church of theKingdom of Hawaii.[citation needed]
- Japanese Empire:see details in theState Shintōarticle.
- Netherlands:Article 133 of the 1814Constitutionstipulated theSovereign Princeshould be a member of theReformed Church;this provision was dropped in the 1815 Constitution.[173]The 1815 Constitution also provided for a state salary and pension for the priesthood of established religions at the time (Protestantism, Catholicism and Judaism). This settlement, nicknamedde zilveren koorde(the silver cord), was abolished in 1983.[174][175][176]
- Nepalwas the world's onlyHindustate until 2015, when the new constitution declared it asecular state.Proselytizingremains illegal.[177][178]
- Ottoman Empire:theMillet system(Turkish:[millet];Arabic:مِلَّة) was the independentcourt of lawpertaining to "personal law" under which aconfessional community(a group abiding by the laws of MuslimSharia,ChristianCanon law,or JewishHalakha) was allowed to rule itself under its own laws.
- Spain:Spain formerly was a Catholic confessional state underFrancisco Franco,but currently is a non-confessional state.
- SudanhadIslamas the official religion during the rule ofOmar al-Bashiraccording to theConstitution of Sudanof 2005.[179]It was declared a secular state in September 2020.[180]
- Tunisia:Article 5 of the Constitution declares that "Tunisia is part of theMuslim world,and the state alone must work to achieve the goals of pure Islam in preserving honourable life of religious freedom ". Although, Islam has been given special privileges by the Constitution, though it is no longer the state religion.[125][126]
- Tokugawa shogunatesanctionedBuddhismandConfucianismas the state religions.[181][182]Buddhism became an arm of the shogunate, and temples were used for population registration. Distinctive schools of Japanese Buddhism such asZen,Pure Land,andNichirenstructured Japanese religious life until the 19th century.[183]ConfucianZhu Xi's teaching became a major intellectual force, and theFour Booksbecame available to virtually every educated person.[184]
Established churches and former state churches
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2023) |
Former confessional states
editNote: This only includes states that abolished their state religion themselves, not states with a state religion that were conquered, fell apart or otherwise disappeared.
Buddhism
editCountry | Denomination | Disestablished |
---|---|---|
Laos | Theravada Buddhism | 1975[206] |
Siam | Theravada Buddhism | 1932 |
Tokugawa Shogunate | Japanese Buddhism | 1868 |
Hinduism
editCountry | Disestablished |
---|---|
Nepal | 2008 (de facto)[207] 2015 (de jure)[207] |
Islam
editCountry | Denomination | Disestablished |
---|---|---|
Sudan | Sunni Islam | 2020[208] |
Tunisia | Sunni Islam | 2022[125] |
Turkey | Sunni Islam | 1928[m] |
Shamanism
editCountry | Denomination | Disestablished |
---|---|---|
Silla | Korean Shamanism | 527 CE |
Shinto
editCountry | Denomination | Disestablished |
---|---|---|
Japan | State Shinto | 1947(de facto)[210] |
See also
edit- Blasphemy law
- Ceremonial deism
- Church tax
- Civil religion
- Confessional state
- Divine rule
- Elite religion
- Institutional theory
- Major religious groups
- Nonsectarian
- Phyletism
- Religious education
- Religious law
- Religious toleration
- Religious intolerance
- Religious supremacism
- Secular religion
- Secularism
- Secularity
- Secularization
- Separation of church and state
- Sociology of religion
- State atheism
- Status of religious freedom by country
- Secular state
Notes
edit- ^Bhutan,[1]Mauritania,[2]Western Sahara(viaSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic[3]and Morocco,[4]which divide control),Morocco,[4]Tunisia,[5]Egypt,[6]England,[7]Jordan,[8]Iraq,[9]Pakistan,[10]Bangladesh,[11]United Arab Emirates,[12]Oman,[13]Yemen,[14]Maldives,[15]Iran,[16]Algeria,[17]Saudi Arabia,[18]Sri Lanka,[19]Afghanistan,[20]Somalia,[21]Malaysia,[22]Brunei,[23]Greece,[24]Denmark,[25]Costa Rica,[26]Zambia.[27]See alsohere.
- ^The headship was administrative and jurisdictional but did not include thepotestas ordinis(the right to preach, ordain, administer the sacraments and rites of the Church which were reserved to the clergy).[30]
- ^The Constitution also states that "Any matter relating to divorce, judicial separation or restitution of conjugal rights or to family relations of the members of the Greek-Orthodox Church, shall be cognizable by family courts each of which is composed: For a divorce trial, of three judges, one of which is a lawyer ecclesiastical officer appointed by the Greek Orthodox Church and presides over the Court and the other two of high professional and moral standard belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church are appointed by the Supreme Court among lawyers. If no ecclesiastical officer is appointed as above, the Supreme Court appoints the President of the Court as well."[70]
- ^Brazilian Laws – the Federal Constitution – The Organization of State.V-brazil.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012. Brazil hadRoman Catholicismas the state religion from the country'sindependencein 1822, until the fall of theBrazilian Empire.Thenew Republican governmentpassed in 1890, Decree 119-A"Decreto 119-A".
Prohibits federal and state authorities to intervene on religion, granting freedom of religion.
(still in force), instituting the separation of church and state in Brazilian law.PositivistthinkerDemétrio Nunes Ribeirourged the new government to adopt this stance. The 1891 Constitution, the first under the Republican system of government, abolished privileges for any specific religion, reaffirming the separation. This has been the case as stated in Article XIX of the 1988Constitution of Brazilcurrently in force. The Preamble, however, does refer to "God's protection" over the document'spromulgation,but this is not considered a legal endorsement of belief in any deity. - ^In France, theConcordat of 1801made the Roman Catholic,Calvinist,andLutheranchurches, along withJudaism,into state-sponsored religions until the1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State.
- ^In Hungary, the constitutional laws of 1848 declared five established churches of equal status: theRoman Catholic,Calvinist,Lutheran,Eastern OrthodoxandUnitarianChurch. In 1868, the law was ratified again after theAusgleichand in 1895Judaismwas added as the sixth established faith. In 1948, every distinction between the different denominations was abolished.[186][187]
- ^In theKingdom of Ireland,theChurch of Irelandwas establishedin the Reformation.[188]TheAct of Union 1800created theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,with theUnited Church of England and Irelandestablished outside Scotland. TheIrish Church Act 1869demerged and disestablished the Church of Ireland,[188]and the island waspartitioned in 1922.The Republic of Ireland's1937 constitutionprohibits any established religion.[189]Originally, it recognized the "special position" of the Roman Catholic Church "as the guardian of the Faith professed bythe great majority of the citizens",and recognized" theChurch of Ireland,thePresbyterian Church in Ireland,theMethodist Church in Ireland,theReligious Society of Friendsin Ireland, as well asJewish Congregationsand the other religious denominations existing in Ireland at the date of the coming into operation of this Constitution ".[190]These provisions weredeleted in 1973.[191]
- ^The Philippines was among several possessionscededbySpainto theUnited Statesin 1898; religious freedom was subsequently guaranteed in the archipelago by the American colonial government. This was codified in thePhilippine Organic Act (1902),section 5:”...That no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.” A similarly-worded provision still exists in thepresent Constitution,promulgated in 1987. While neither a state nor national church, theCatholic Church in the Philippinesremains the predominant faith of the people, still wielding considerable political and cultural influence.
- ^Article 25 ofthe constitutionstates: "1. Churches and other religious organizations shall have equal rights. 2. Public authorities in the Republic of Poland shall be impartial in matters of personal conviction". Article 114 of the PolishMarch Constitution of 1921declared the Roman Catholic Church to hold "the principal position among religious denominations equal before the law" (in reference to the idea offirst among equals). This was continuously enforced by Article 81 of theApril Constitution of 1935.The [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet]]-backedPKWN Manifestoof 1944 reapplied the March Constitution, which remained in force until it was replaced by theSmall Constitution of 1947.
- ^Until the end of themonarchyin 1910, Roman Catholicism was considered the state religion. From the 1940s until the promulgation of official secularism in thePortuguese Constitution of 1976,it was a powerful institution under theEstado Novoregime that had ended in the 1975Carnation Revolution.[citation needed]
- ^TheFirst Amendmentto theU.S. Constitutionexplicitly forbids thefederal governmentfrom enacting any law respecting a religious establishment, and thus bans either designating an official church nationwide, or interfering withStateand local official churches—which were common when the First Amendment was enacted. It did not preventstate governmentsfrom establishing official churches.Connecticutcontinued to do so until it replaced its colonialCharterwith theConnecticut Constitution of 1818;Massachusetts retained an establishment of religion in general until 1833.[202]Until its substitution by Article of Amendment XI in 1834, ArticleIII of the Massachusetts constitution's bill of rights provided, "...the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily. "[203] TheFourteenth Amendmentto theU.S. Constitution,ratified in 1868, makes no mention of religious establishment, but forbids the states to "abridge the privileges or immunities" of U.S. citizens, or to "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law". In the 1947 case ofEverson v. Board of Education,theSupreme Court of the United Statesheld that this later provisionincorporatesthe First Amendment's Establishment Clause as applying to the States, and thereby prohibits state and local religious establishments. The exact boundaries of this prohibition are still disputed, and are a frequent source of cases raised to the Supreme Court — especially as the Court must now balance, on a state level, First Amendment prohibitions on government establishment of official religions with the First Amendment prohibitions on government interference with the free exercise of religion. Seeschool prayerfor such a controversy in contemporary American politics. All current State constitutions do mention a Creator, but include guarantees of religious liberty parallel to theFirst Amendment.The constitutions of eight states (Arkansas,Maryland,Mississippi,North Carolina,Pennsylvania,South Carolina,Tennessee,andTexas) also contain clauses that forbid atheists from holding public office.[204][205]However, these clauses were held by the Supreme Court to be unenforceable in the 1961 case ofTorcaso v. Watkins,where the Court ruled unanimously that such clauses constituted a religious test incompatible with the religious test prohibition inArticle6 Section3of the Constitution. The AnglicanChurch of Hawaiiwas the state church of theKingdom of Hawaiifrom 1862 until themonarchywasoverthrownin 1893, with the islands formally annexed by the United States in 1898.
- ^TheChurch in Waleswas split from theChurch of Englandin 1920 byWelsh Church Act 1914,and at the same time becoming disestablished.
- ^TheTurkish Constitution of 1924was amended for the first time on 10 April 1928, including removinginter aliaArticle 2 and the provision of "Religion of the Turkish state is Islam".[209]
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Further reading
edit- Rowlands, John Henry Lewis (1989).Church, State, and Society, 1827–1845: the Attitudes of John Keble, Richard Hurrell Froude, and John Henry Newman.Worthing, Eng.: P. Smith [of] Churchman Publishing; Folkestone, Eng.: distr.... by Bailey Book Distribution.ISBN1850931321
External links
edit- McConnell, Michael W. (April 2003)."Establishment and Disestablishment at the Founding, Part I: Establishment of Religion".William and Mary Law Review.44(5): 2105. Archived fromthe originalon 4 June 2011.