Tarih: Pzr Mar 01, 2009 2:35 pm Mesaj konusu: Religion, Politics and Human being ...
Contents
1. Introduction 1-2
2. Religion, Politics and Human being 2
3. Church and state in Understanding St. Augustine 3-5
4. Church and state in Understanding St. Thomas Aquinas 5-6
5. In Conclusion 7-8
6. References I-II 9-10
Introduction
Humankind have some religions and beliefs and these religions and beliefs had some
unobjectionable rules and orders. Most of religions want to intervene to earthly life. Like
Christianity, Islam, Jewishness ( Judaism)… Therefore, religions are related to with politics.
In state government, decision-making, likely interpretation of political affairs. Therefore,
religion related to with politics. Some authority of the state use the religion for to maintain
and govern the state. Some authority use the religion for own interests. They aim earthly or
secular things. If necessary given an example, ‘Holy Roman Empire’ is an obvious example
And it governed by Church. I will explain The Church-state relations according to St.Thomas
Aquinas and St. Augustine, Politics process and affairs, relations of ruler and the religion
(church) and contemporary religious constitutional changes.
St. Augustine and St.Thomas Aquinas were philosophers especially in religious
dimension of political Theory. They were also political theorists in ancient time.St.
Augustine was a bishop. St.Thomas Aquinas, the biggest political theorist in the Middle Age.
St. Augustine has been given some know ledges about human nature, political society, the
church, and social ethics. St. Thomas Aquinas has been given some know ledges about human
nature, political society, kingship and social ethics. They give know ledges almost same the
under topics but they give topics related with government (Kingship) and religion. These
philosophers define authority which church should be dominant on the society. On the other
hand, political theory describes which man is a political and social animal and they create
societies, states, governmental structures. Besides, states had some rules for society’s
regularity and also states need some law rules.
Actually, justice concept is important for prevalence of state. They supported that state
should be dependent the church because they believe, church-state guarantee happiness of
people. In middle age, most of states governed by the church.
Religion, politics and Human Being
Most of all people had belief and religion in ancient. Various religions and beliefs give
to people some reward and avoidance about the afterlife. However, religion is not only related
with afterlife. It regulates individual, society and state according to religious rules. Medieval
thoughts and religious rules of Christianity were mixed. Thus, there was consisted a new life
style. After this, Middle age Europe’s life style had changed and its intellectual approach
appeared as life style of Christianity. God sent the prophet Jesus as a saviour on the earth.
This image shaped like belief with church doctrine as God-Devil or godly-earthly dilemma.
However, in this understanding, human did not a place in church autocracy and he or she was
contented with individual beliefs. In this frame, Middle age’s dogmas did not accept by the
Political authority. After that, this process changed and church, political empire and
Princedoms dilemma have been occurred differential sections in social life. Therefore, church
prevented political authorities as religious authority. However, Big Constantine accepted the
Christianity as a Christian religious state.
Likewise, “Religion, the conscious reflection of the constitution of order in nature and
society, is one of the oldest institutions of humankind. Politics, the art and science of
government, has a narrower scope and is not of the same antiquity. At the fundamental level,
politics subsist in religion. The reflection of the act of foundation of political order in
consciousness is pure religion; and political action merges with religion to the extent that it
approaches the foundation of order.”
Church and State In Understanding of St. Augustine
St. Augustine was a bishop of the Catholic Church and Christian political theorist. He
sees important the Christianity, especially in politics. He says there are dilemmas that
Christian individual’s life. These dilemmas are like Political dilemma. Therefore; people
separate two species according to St. Augustine. Besides, people have dual nature and they
choose two life shapes. St. Augustine calls these life shapes as ‘City’and according to him
there are two cities. These two Cities ( Dual Nature) lead him and he describes two Cities as
The City of Man and the City of God. Actually these consist from two loves which earthly
loves and godly loves. The City of Man reflects or represents all of regimes and governments
on the world. The City of God reflects or represents full (perfect) justice and peace of God’s
Heavenly Kingdom. On the contrary, in City of Man, peace and justice are not perfect (full).
The City of God comprises external, perfect peace, justice, humility, poverty, love etc.
According to St. Augustine, Church was very important for maintaining of peace and justice
on the society. So, If City of God represent especially in government, love and peace
extremely was being protected. However, world’s name has been changed. World had
obtained a new name which ‘World of Power’ so greed, sin, immorality came and humility,
love and fear of God, love, peace, justice, decency, morality disappeared. Church advises
justice, peace, morality and it should interpret some events and rules. Church believes that
come power and authority from God. And Church interprets the world and Church is
representative of God over the world. Also, Church advises the state and its interpreter. Most
superior authority is God, following structure and authority is Church, intermediary structure
is state or government. Church was representative of God and it focuses state and the world.
Also, Church should advise secular or earthly affairs and matters even political affairs.
Religion and state relations collapsed and raised to countries even empires. Constantine
empire, Ottoman empire etc. “In the beginning of the fourth century when the
Emperor Constantine, fighting for control of the Western Empire, attributed his victory in a
decisive battle to the intervention of the Christian God.”
Classical authors think justice, moral or virtue is essences of the state. In ancient
time, Greek religion was actually state religion. Therefore, there were some religious art
works and were connected to state. Augustine’s thoughts state and church were different
sections. Between Classical views and Medieval began to be separated clearly. Separation of
Church and state became clear. The state provides some necessary things for following of
eternal salvation. Church aims the immortality (immortal soul) for people’ life. The church
does not mind purposes of state. The Church affects political outcomes of the state.
Firstly, Christianity was entered into the political order with enmity. For St.
Augustine, state functions were negative. Peace was outside removed from the true peace
of heavenly kingdom. He minded conflicts and matters of war between the states. Especially,
Eastern empire (Byzantium) survived more than one thousands years till collapse of
Constantinople. In middle age, agricultural and economic activities were under the control of
Lords and there was lack of central authority. The church utilized from these conditions
because it was unity which top organization. Really, the church is dominant over the whole
Europe. Especially, the church was leading medieval political opinion. After this, the church
was became more powerful and influential. Especially, head of the church was effective on
The emperor. After that, Church began to exist in the state and empire changed or
tergiversated and they accepted the Christian religion. Alike, we see the conversion or
proselyte of Constantine and this empire became mixed church and state. After this,
St.Augustine gave up his from Classical political theory’s thoughts. State can preserve
triangle of religion, moral and virtue. Although the sinful and rebel world, it can keep the
order easily. According to “St. Augustine; the king or emperor is appointed by God and rules
in order to keep peace as part of the Divine plan..”
Church and State In Understanding of St. Thomas Aquinas
The state is only universal empire that God makes last rules and God ruler. He
believes hierarchy of laws and he said Divine law encompasses whole other laws. Varieties of
Laws provide the authority which universe’s laws. Law of universe determines three kinds
with hierarchical structure of law. These laws are first Divine Law, second Natural Law, third
Human Law. Initially, Divine Law encompasses the other laws and it is an Eternal Law.
Eternal Law is controlling of universe by God. Divine law is perfect and unchangeable law.
Secondly, Natural Law is under the Divine Law. It is explanation and direction of natural
events such as planets, sun, seasons, animals etc. “Thomas’s famous definition of Natural
Law is ‘participation of the eternal law in the rational creature’.”
Thomas Aquinas adds to political theory that political affairs is a positive role for the
state. If it corresponds man’s nature and law. Church is necessary for the daily life and
salvation. Thomas Aquinas refers is the church superior than the state. According to St.
Thomas Aquinas, Divine Law and Natural Law interpret by the church and state only enforce
the Human Law under the control and advice of the church. Aim of state served common
good by prevented evil or vice. State should want to guidance of the church. Human law
protect private property rights of people and it performs to this with advice of the church. St.
Thomas Aquinas considers holy or divine the Monarchy because he accepts; the whole is one
thing and Monarchy is one thing so government must serve the whole society. Monarchy can
achieve to this perfectly because Thomas Aquinas divided political regimes and order as
served the common good of society and served the ruler own interest just-unjust terms. The
best regime or polity is logic of the Monarchy. Thomas Aquinas refers one ruler should be in
a country. These ruler should be Christian king and they should generate or create their
politics for guidance of the church. Thomas Aquinas evaluates according to Just and Unjust.
Meanwhile, Unjust king is Tyrant or worst ruler.
St. Thomas Aquinas was different from St. Augustine as man which these distinctions
called a supernatural end and natural end. This difference is important because it has some
reflections in morality. It is fundament between the supernatural and natural virtues and
politics. It is fundament distinction between the ends of state and the church and decides
relations in existing two societies. Supernatural ends and natural ends should exist the
societies but these ends or virtues may not to be attuned to orders. One of them supernatural,
the other that natural (pure nature). Supernatural end; human created by the God, for perfect
happiness, in the next life obtainable God but God is unattainable as alone. Besides,
Augustinianism has been viewed as related to an attitude of rejection of politics, and to
attempts to create a papal world-state . Thomas Aquinas adds more systematic facts and
terms. “Saint Thomas Aquinas that a systematic attempt is made to relate the Christian
message to classical social, political, and legal thought in a philosophical way.” There were
Similarities between St. Augustine’s City of God and St. Thomas Aquinas’s Divine Law.
In Conclusion
In ancient time, Papal States had happened over the lands and these lands were
protecting by some emperors or kings. For example; some ruler or king (head of state) wants
to keep under the control and his dominance all of Catholics or Protestants and head of state
(king of France) desired to gain the sympathy in Christendom. In ancient time, popes used
kings or rulers’ political authority for to serve own interest about religion. Conquest Istanbul
and East empire. Recently, Church had became effective especially in wars such as USA
made political war the Iraq in effect of religion. (Bush doctrine).Thomas Aquinas was
leading to law systems with religion interpretations. Also, Conquest of the Istanbul was based
on religion belief and its reflection to the politics. Some states still continue as religious states
such as Israel, Bush government in USA, Iran, Vatican..
Nowadays, also religious organizations contributed in high proportion in the
United States. These are religious organizations provide great benefits over the public.
Catholic Charities, The united Jewish Communities, Organizations of Islamic aid. and these organizations work goodly. They aid to poor people, may be provide a house, go to some countries in he natural disasters (Tsunami and earthquake) and they establish good connections that this aid their state for the better politics. Religious organizations contribute political affairs between the two states neighbourly.
In ancient time, there might not exist proper religious organizations but there were some religious groups. These groups have played an important role in the political process on the publics. Especially, great empires have effected by the church. Nowadays, religion still was effective on the states and societies. Religion has placed in some political affairs as little or much.
References
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