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A '''state religion''' (also called an established religion, state [[church]], established church, or official religion) is a religious body or [[creed]] officially endorsed by the [[state]]. A state with an official religion, while not [[secular]], is not necessarily a [[theocracy]].

A '''state religion''' (also called an established religion, state [[church]], established church, or official religion) is a religious body or [[creed]] officially endorsed by the [[state]]. A state with an official religion, while not [[secular]], is not necessarily a [[theocracy]].

The term ''state church'' is associated with [[Christianity]], historically the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_church_of_the_Roman_Empire state church of the Roman Empire], and is sometimes used to denote a specific [[modern]] national branch of Christianity. Closely related to state churches are what sociologists call [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesia_(sociology_of_religion) ecclesiae], though the two are slightly different.

The term ''state church'' is associated with [[Christianity]], historically the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_church_of_the_Roman_Empire state church of the Roman Empire], and is sometimes used to denote a specific [[modern]] national branch of Christianity. Closely related to state churches are what sociologists call [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesia_(sociology_of_religion) ecclesiae], though the two are slightly different.

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State religion''s are official or [[government]]-sanctioned establishments of a [[religion]], but neither does the state need be under the [[control]] of the church (as in a theocracy), nor is the state-sanctioned church necessarily under the control of the state.

State religion''s are official or [[government]]-sanctioned establishments of a [[religion]], but neither does the state need be under the [[control]] of the church (as in a theocracy), nor is the state-sanctioned church necessarily under the control of the state.

The [[institution]] of state-sponsored religious [[cults]] is ancient, reaching into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Near_East Ancient Near East] and prehistory. The relation of religious cult and the state was discussed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varro Varro], under the term of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theologia_civilis theologia civilis]'' ("civic theology"). The first state-sponsored Christian church was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Church Armenian Apostolic Church], established in 301 AD.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_religion]

The [[institution]] of state-sponsored religious [[cults]] is ancient, reaching into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Near_East Ancient Near East] and prehistory. The relation of religious cult and the state was discussed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varro Varro], under the term of ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theologia_civilis theologia civilis]'' ("civic theology"). The first state-sponsored Christian church was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Church Armenian Apostolic Church], established in 301 AD.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_religion]

[[Category: Politics]]

[[Category: Politics]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]