Religion and the State

The relationship between religion and the state is a central concern in the study of dialogues. Different societies have adopted very different models, from theocracy to strict secularism, and the appropriate role of religion in public and political life remains deeply contested. The AQA specification requires you to understand the key models, the specific case of the established Church of England, debates about faith schools, and the arguments for and against the separation of religion and state.

Key Definition: Establishment — the formal, legal recognition of a particular religion or church as the official religion of the state. In England, the Church of England is the "established" church, with the monarch as its Supreme Governor.

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Models of the Religion-State Relationship