Church-State Developments Around the World

Abstract

This study covers recent church-state develop ments within three broad patterns of interaction. The first pattern involves religious attempts to either eliminate or dominate secular authority. The case of Iran's Islamic republic is examined, as well as the possibility of an "Islamic resurgence" among other Muslim nations. The second pattern represents church-state disagreement over specific public policies. Examples in this section include recent educational, divorce, and abortion reforms in the traditionally conservative states of Italy and Spain, religious opposition to the status quo politics of certain Latin American regimes, and disagree ments over racial policy in white-dominated southern Africa. In the final pattern, the state seeks to eliminate or seriously restrict religious activity. Primary emphasis in this section is placed upon the policies of the Communist regimes of the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. The persecution of specific religious groups in non-Communist states is also examined. The various cases examined in this study suggest that church-state disputes are quite common within nearly all world regions and among all religious groups. Moreover, controversies are likely to continue as long as secular and religious leaders seek different goals.