State church

A state church (also called an established church) is a religious body officially endorsed by the state. Sometimes the term state religion is used instead, particularly in the context of non-Christian religions (the term 'church' is most closely associated with Christianity, although it is sometimes used in the context of other faiths as well.) Closely related to state churches are what sociologists call ecclesia, though the two are slightly different.

The degree of state endorsement of a state church varies, from mere endorsement and financial support, with freedom for other faiths to practice, to prohibiting any competiting church from operating and persecuting the followers of other churches.

Examples of state churches include the Church of England in England, the [Church of Scotland]? in Scotland (Wales and Northern Ireland do not have established churches), various Lutheran churches in the Scandanavian countries. In the past the Roman Catholic church was the state church of many European countries.

Sociologists refer to mainstream non-state churches as denominations. State churches tend to admit a larger variety of opinion within them than denominations. Denominations encountering major differences of opinion within themselves are likely to split; this option is not open for state churches, so they tend to try to integrate differing opinions within themselves.

State churches tend to enjoy the allegiance of the majority of their country; however much of this support is little more than nominal, with many members of the church rarely attending it. But the population's allegiance towards the state church is often strong enough to prevent them from joining competiting religious groups. Sociologists put this forward as an explanation for the religious differences between the United States and Europe: many sociologists theorise that the continuing vitality of religion in American life, compared to many European countries, is due to the lack of a strong state church (or indeed, any state church at all) during much of American history.

Increasingly, sociologists of religion are using monopolies in economics as an analogy for state churches.