Decemberist
Er, there are Islamist(Sp) republics and for ages the Dalai Llama was the political leader of the Tibet-in-Exile nation.
Dutch Lesbian
Adveho in mihi Lucifer
Historically, religion and state meddled more often than not. Deifying the current rulers was a popular option among pagans, for example.
A single phrase renders Christianity a delusional cult
Citizen
There are a few Islamic republics today where the top decision-makers are clerics. Vatican City has no separation of church and state, obviously. Several western nations still have established churches, such as Sweden, Iceland and England. In the case of the Church of England, even though it's a state church, the ministers and crown no longer have any real political power. So while they may not have de jure separation, they do have de facto separation. Same with much of the Western world. People are not required by law to be a member of a particular church, and churches rely on donations rather than taxes to fund themselves.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
Chaotic Greedy
But even in countries where it's officially separated, it's quite fragile. Even in France, which is a major proponent of separation, Nicolas Sarkozy once made a speech against it, prompting outcry.
Thought of the day: "In God we trust."
edited 27th Sep '11 1:48:59 AM by Medinoc
"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
One Winged Egret
Part of the trigger for the Asian side of WW 2 was the Japanese government establishing State Shinto and reinforcing the divinity of the emperor, which had previously been treated less seriously in political matters.
Professional Smartass
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
There is something Europe lags behind in
Many countries with porportional representation have a religiously oriented party.
edited 27th Sep '11 1:57:37 PM by Qeise
Laws are made to be broken. You're next, thermodynamics.
Pro-Freedom Fanatic
IIRC, in some of those countries most cemeteries are friggin'old and Church property. Additionally, some of the churches (esp. cathedrals) are considered monuments and the churches have a duty for their upkeep.
In some of those cases, the church tax is actually a graveyard tax.
Most of those countries only tax the religion's members, so there's always the option of leaving the Church and not paying that tax.
edited 27th Sep '11 2:06:15 PM by SavageHeathen
You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.
Do other religions get involve in polictal matters or the culture wars like christians do and if so what issuses do that get involve with and how do they navigate the polictal arena?
Place your past in a book burn the pages let them cook.