State religion

A state religion, often called an official religion, is a religion or creed that a sovereign state officially endorses.

While such a state is not a secular state, it is not necessarily a theocracy. In a theocracy, religious leaders hold legislative control over the government. In many cases involving state religions, the government simply provides advantageous treatment to the endorsed faith. This treatment can range from simple endorsement to unrestricted public spending on clergy and religious property. Generally, these official religions enjoy more rights and face fewer restrictions than other faiths within the country.

The mechanism of state support varies significantly across different nations. At one end of the spectrum, a state may offer mere endorsement without providing financial support. At the other extreme, a state might prohibit competing religious bodies or even persecute followers of other sects. Some administrative regions also sponsor specific denominations through local laws. For instance, in Alsace-Moselle, France, local laws fund several religious communities, including Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, and Israelite groups. This follows historical patterns seen in Germany and the pre-1905 French concordatory system.

There is a technical distinction between a state religion and a state church. A state church, or an established church, is a religion established by a state for its own exclusive use. In a state church, the government maintains absolute control over the institution. In contrast, a state religion may be ruled by an exterior body. For example, the Vatican maintains control over the Catholic Church even when it is the state religion. A related term is ecclesiae, which carries a similar but minor connotation. When a state decides to repeal a church's status as a government organ, the process is called disestablishment. Those who oppose this process are known as antidisestablishmentarians.

History shows that the relationship between religious cults and the state has been studied for centuries. The ancient Latin scholar Marcus Terentius Varro used the term "theologia civilis" to describe this connection. Official religions have appeared in almost all cultures, reaching back into prehistory and the Ancient Near East. In the Christian tradition, the Armenian Apostolic Church was the first state-sponsored denomination, established in 301 CE. In Europe, the 16th century saw intense competition between Catholic and Protestant denominations for state sponsorship. This led to the principle of "Cuius regio, eius religio," meaning the religion of the state follows the religion of its ruler. This principle was embodied in the Peace of Augsburg in 1555. In 1534, Henry VIII broke with Rome and declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Today, the degree of imposition varies widely. In some Middle Eastern nations, Islam is the official religion, though the level of restriction on citizens differs by country. Rulers in Saudi Arabia use religious power, while in Iran, secular presidents must follow religious authorities following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In contrast, Turkey became a secular country following the Atatürk Reforms. This differs from the Russian Revolution, which resulted in state atheism. Some European nations, such as England, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, and Greenland, have official religions but provide no special support.

Buddhism serves as an official religion in several nations. In Bhutan, the Constitution defines Tibetan Buddhism as the country's "spiritual heritage." The King, or Druk Gyalpo, acts as the protector of all religions. The state also provides funds to the Zhung Dratshang. In Cambodia, the Constitution declares Theravada Buddhism as the official religion. Myanmar also recognizes the special position of Theravada Buddhism through its Constitution and the 1961 State Religion Promotion and Support Act. This act requires the government to teach Buddhist lessons in schools and broadcast sermons on state media. Other nations, like Thailand and Laos, grant Buddhism special status or privilege rather than full state religion status.

Christianity also holds official status in various forms. In Papua New Guinea, the Constitution was amended to acknowledge God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Samoa is also defined as a Christian nation in its Constitution. In the realm of Catholicism, several states recognize it officially. Costa Rica's Constitution identifies the Catholic and Apostolic Religion as the state religion, though it allows for other forms of worship. Liechtenstein and Malta also recognize Catholicism as the state religion. In the case of the Vatican, it is an elective, theocratic monarchy ruled by the Pope, who serves as the Vicar of Christ. These various systems show how deeply faith and government can be connected.