Confessional state
Encyclopedia
A confessional state is a state which officially practices a particular religion
, and at least encourages its citizens to do likewise.
Over human history, most states
have been confessional states; the idea of religious pluralism
in modern terms is relatively recent, and until the beginning of the 20th century, many if not most nations had state religion
s enshrined in their respective constitution
s or by decree of the monarch
, even if other religions were permitted to practice.
Religious minorities are accorded differing degrees of tolerance under confessional states; adherents may or may not have a set of legal rights, and these rights may not be accessible in practice. For example, in medieval
Europe
Jewish people suffered various degrees of official and unofficial discrimination; during the same period in Islam
ic states, non-Muslims or dhimmi
were legally inferior to Muslims but accorded certain protections.
In Europe, the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia institutionalized the principle of cuius regio, eius religio
- that rulers of a state had the right to determine the religion of its subjects. This was in an effort to curb the religious warfare that had wracked Europe after the Protestant Reformation
.
were confessional states, although of different denominations, before the American Revolution
; Connecticut
remained one until 1818. Other American states required each town or individual to support some religious body, without the state deciding which one; but this was also abolished, the last instance being Massachusetts
, which restricted the obligation in 1821 and ended it in 1843. Both systems are unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and preference in matters of religion was forbidden in several colonies.
, the confessional state, particularly in the form of the Islamic republic
is still quite common. A number of modern countries have state religion
s; they usually also allow freedom of religion
however.
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
, and at least encourages its citizens to do likewise.
Over human history, most states
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
have been confessional states; the idea of religious pluralism
Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
in modern terms is relatively recent, and until the beginning of the 20th century, many if not most nations had state religion
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
s enshrined in their respective constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
s or by decree of the monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
, even if other religions were permitted to practice.
Religious minorities are accorded differing degrees of tolerance under confessional states; adherents may or may not have a set of legal rights, and these rights may not be accessible in practice. For example, in medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
Jewish people suffered various degrees of official and unofficial discrimination; during the same period in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic states, non-Muslims or dhimmi
Dhimmi
A , is a non-Muslim subject of a state governed in accordance with sharia law. Linguistically, the word means "one whose responsibility has been taken". This has to be understood in the context of the definition of state in Islam...
were legally inferior to Muslims but accorded certain protections.
In Europe, the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia institutionalized the principle of cuius regio, eius religio
Cuius regio, eius religio
Cuius regio, eius religio is a phrase in Latin translated as "Whose realm, his religion", meaning the religion of the ruler dictated the religion of the ruled...
- that rulers of a state had the right to determine the religion of its subjects. This was in an effort to curb the religious warfare that had wracked Europe after the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
.
United States
Several of the Thirteen ColoniesThirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
were confessional states, although of different denominations, before the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
; Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
remained one until 1818. Other American states required each town or individual to support some religious body, without the state deciding which one; but this was also abolished, the last instance being Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, which restricted the obligation in 1821 and ended it in 1843. Both systems are unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and preference in matters of religion was forbidden in several colonies.
Modern times
The confessional state is largely gone in the Western World, although in the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, the confessional state, particularly in the form of the Islamic republic
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
is still quite common. A number of modern countries have state religion
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
s; they usually also allow freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
however.