Are there any Erastian state churches today?

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NaphtaliPress

Administrator
Staff member
Presuming that a generalized working definition of bare bones Erastianism is that the ultimate appeal of church discipline is to the state, are there any true Erastian churches today? I don't know for instance what the Revolution settlement did for the Anglican church; did that power in that church go solely to the bishops or how did church censures work before the modern era apostasy?
 

RamistThomist

Puritanboard Clerk
Presuming that a generalized working definition of bare bones Erastianism is that the ultimate appeal of church discipline is to the state, are there any true Erastian churches today? I don't know for instance what the Revolution settlement did for the Anglican church; did that power in that church go solely to the bishops or how did church censures work before the modern era apostasy?

In America or outside America? The Prime Minister usually chooses the first recommended name, and then he or she forwards that to her majesty.
 

Scottish Presbyterian

Puritan Board Sophomore
Presuming that a generalized working definition of bare bones Erastianism is that the ultimate appeal of church discipline is to the state, are there any true Erastian churches today? I don't know for instance what the Revolution settlement did for the Anglican church; did that power in that church go solely to the bishops or how did church censures work before the modern era apostasy?
I'm pretty sure the Church of England is still Erastian in the sense you describe, at least officially.
 

Taylor

Puritan Board Post-Graduate
They would be the opposite, right? In RCC, the Pope is supreme over the state.
That’s what I’m wondering. Is the pope also a state official? If that’s the case, it still seems Erastian. I don’t see really any practical difference between a head of the state who is also head of the church and a head of the church who is also head of the state.
 

SeanPatrickCornell

Puritan Board Junior
That’s what I’m wondering. Is the pope also a state official? If that’s the case, it still seems Erastian. I don’t see really any practical difference between a head of the state who is also head of the church and a head of the church who is also head of the state.

I guess the question to ask though is, does Vatican City have any citizens that aren't high officials in the Catholic Church? Seems to me that the Vatican is a unique creature.
 

MChase

Puritan Board Freshman
That’s what I’m wondering. Is the pope also a state official? If that’s the case, it still seems Erastian. I don’t see really any practical difference between a head of the state who is also head of the church and a head of the church who is also head of the state.

There is a difference between a state excommunicating and the church carrying out a death penalty. Both bad, but different nonetheless.
 

Taylor

Puritan Board Post-Graduate
There is a difference between a state excommunicating and the church carrying out a death penalty. Both bad, but different nonetheless.
What if the head of the state and the church are the same person? Does Erastianism require that the state not be clergy?
 

ZackF

Puritan Board Professor
In any state where the church is undergoing an investiture contest can be thought of as least partially Erastian. The RCC has CCP appointed bishops.
 
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Tom Hart

Puritan Board Senior
The Church of Tuvalu, while perhaps not officially Erastian (they don’t even seem to have a website, so their exact beliefs are difficult to ascertain), is the state church in a country where the government exercises some power over religion.
 
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