state religion
Let an agent explain state religion and its forms, relay which states have official religions from official and comparative sources, describe historical forms such as imperial cults, and present debates on establishment and religious freedom neutrally.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain state religion and its forms, relay which states have official religions from official and comparative sources, describe historical forms such as imperial cults, and present debates on establishment and religious freedom neutrally.
A religion officially endorsed by a state, whether established by law, funded by the state or given a privileged constitutional status, from ancient imperial cults that worshipped rulers, through established churches such as the Church of England, the Lutheran churches of the Nordic countries and Orthodox churches in some Balkan states, to states with Islam as the official religion and Buddhism as the state religion in some Asian countries; state religions coexist with varying degrees of religious freedom and are contrasted with secular states and separation of church and state.
What it is for: Not applicable; a political-religious arrangement.
It can be explain forms; relay current examples; describe historical forms; present debates neutrally.
Distinguishing features
Legal establishment
State funding or privilege
Varied religious freedom
Historical and modern forms
What it looks like
Not a visible object; constitutions, established churches and ceremonies.
Physical character
countries with an official religion: about 40 count - Pew Research 2017
countries with preferred religion: about 40 count - Pew Research 2017
How it is recognised
Officially endorsed religion of a state
Established churches, official Islam, state Buddhism, historical imperial cults
Secular states have no official religion; a majority religion is not necessarily official
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms, as a status of a religion
is contrasted with - and separation of church and state
is exemplified by - as an established church
includes historically - worship of rulers
In practice
Families and kinds
established Christian churches such as the Church of England and Nordic Lutheran churches
states with Islam as official religion
states with Buddhism as state religion such as Cambodia and Bhutan
Orthodox churches with special status
historical state religions and imperial cults of Rome, Egypt, Japan and elsewhere
preferred but not official religions
Standards and regulation
National constitutions establishing or disestablishing religions
International human rights law on freedom of religion
Concordats and church-state agreements
Failure modes and hazards
Presenting church-state debates as settled
Confusing majority religion with official religion
Stale information on disestablishment
Disrespecting any religion or secular position
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a state religion is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and forms.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a state religion, and how do established, official and preferred religions differ? definition
- Is the question about the concept, a specific country or the separation of church and state? boundary
Examples
Current examples.
Examples
Examples.
- Which countries have official religions today, from comparative sources? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific country? action
History History.
Attribution.
Ancient
Ancient and imperial cults.
Ancient
Ancient.
- How did imperial cults and ancient state religions function in Rome, Egypt, China and Japan, as historians describe? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Modern
Establishment and disestablishment.
Modern
Modern.
- How did established churches arise after the Reformation, and how have states disestablished religions? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Debates Debates.
Attribution.
Freedom
Religious freedom.
Freedom
Freedom.
- How do state religions relate to religious freedom and minority rights, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Secularism
Secularism debates.
Secularism
Secularism.
- What arguments are made for establishment and for secular states, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits secularism? action
Context Law and practice.
Context.
Law
Constitutional provisions.
Law
Law.
- How do constitutions and concordats define the status of religion? provenance
- Which entry fits church-state relations? action
Practice
Practice.
Practice
Practice.
- How do state religions shape ceremonies, education and funding in practice? provenance
- Which entry fits religious education? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should established church and imperial cult be separate primary entries?
- How should comparative sources be linked?
- How should countries with preferred religions be recorded?