<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The article describes and reflects the extent to which the free-church path of separation between church and state secures its independence from state influence and at the same time creates scope for assuming political responsibility and influencing society. To this end, the origins and development as well as the probation and problems of the free church principle of the separation of church and state are examined. Against this background, a fundamental relationship of church, state and politics in terms of religious, plural and secular societies is reflected and developed. The separation of state and church does not mean that they ignore each other. The religious institutions, people and beliefs take part in shaping law, public policy and organizing civic engagement. Therefore the public and political responsibility of churches and theology is examined from a free-church point of view.</p></abstract>

The article describes and reflects the extent to which the free-church path of separation between church and state secures its independence from state influence and at the same time creates scope for assuming political responsibility and influencing society. To this end, the origins and development as well as the probation and problems of the free church principle of the separation of church and state are examined. Against this background, a fundamental relationship of church, state and politics in terms of religious, plural and secular societies is reflected and developed. The separation of state and church does not mean that they ignore each other. The religious institutions, people and beliefs take part in shaping law, public policy and organizing civic engagement. Therefore the public and political responsibility of churches and theology is examined from a free-church point of view.

The Relation between the Church, State and Politics in a Society of Religious (Ideological) Pluralism – a Free Church Perspective

Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The article describes and reflects the extent to which the free-church path of separation between church and state secures its independence from state...

The Relation between the Church, State and Politics in a Society of Religious (Ideological) Pluralism – a Free Church Perspective

Published Online: Aug 30, 2018

Page range: 238 - 256

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2018-0018

Keywords
social ethics, political ethics, Churches’ relationship to the state, separation of Church and state, free Protestant Churches, religious pluralism, secularism (laicism), political responsibility

© 2018 Markus Iff, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Relation between the Church, State and Politics in a Society of Religious (Ideological) Pluralism – a Free Church Perspective

Published Online: Aug 30, 2018

Page range: 238 - 256

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ress-2018-0018

Keywordssocial ethics, political ethics, Churches’ relationship to the state, separation of Church and state, free Protestant Churches, religious pluralism, secularism (laicism), political responsibility

© 2018 Markus Iff, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
social ethics, political ethics, Churches’ relationship to the state, separation of Church and state, free Protestant Churches, religious pluralism, secularism (laicism), political responsibility