2022/04/29

名詞介紹

政教合一/神權統治

Caesaropapism/Theocracy

唸給你聽

基本資料

政教合一和神權統治這兩個詞並不一樣,但差在哪呢?全世界又有多少個國家是神權統治呢?

政教合一的定義是由政府決定宗教事宜。早期比較知名的例子出現在東羅馬帝國,當時的皇帝逐步提高對宗教事務的掌控,之後東羅馬帝國皇帝便以教會的保護者自居,君士坦丁堡的主教任命經常必須經皇帝同意才能順利就任。也因為定義是政府對宗教事務有掌控權,所以也有人說中國是世俗主義下的政教合一國家,但人民生活不受宗教勢力干預。
有些國家雖然明訂為政教分離,但實際上因為國家領袖意圖讓某一宗教擁有比較大的權利,變成隱形的「政教合一」。
那如果反過來,變成「宗教干預政治」呢?最極端的狀況就是「神權統治」,也就是由宗教領袖領導政府。現存的神權統治國家僅剩天主教的教廷(梵蒂岡) 、伊斯蘭教的沙烏地阿拉伯和伊朗。

●教廷(梵蒂岡):國家元首為教宗方濟各。
●沙烏地阿拉伯:國家元首為沙烏地阿拉伯國王,同時也是兩聖地的監護人。
●伊朗:國家元首雖為總統,但實際權力掌握在宗教最高領袖哈梅尼手上。

Caesaropapism and theocracy represent two different systems. Caesaropapism is a system in which the state also governs religious matters. The Byzantine Empire is one of the well known examples of the early form of caesaropapism. After one Byzantine emperor gradually tightened his control over religious affairs, his successors all acted as custodians of the Church and the appointment of the archbishop of Constantinople had to be first approved by the emperor. As it is a system in which the state holds power over religious matters, some people argue that China also runs a type of caesaropapism based on secularism, except that religious institutions do not meddle with private life. 

There are cases where the head of state grants more power to a certain religious institution and thus facilitates shadow caesaropapism, despite the clear mandate of separation of church and state. 

So what about the other way around when the church interferes with political affairs? The most extreme case would be a theocracy where the state is led by a religious leader. The remaining theocracies of our times include the Holy See (Vatican City State) and Islamic Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

  • The Holy See (Vatican City State): The head of state is Pope Francis. 
  • Saudi Arabia: The head of state is the King of Saudi Arabia and he is also the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. 
  • Iran: The president is only the nominal head of state. Ali Khamenei, the supreme religious leader, is the one with actual ruling power. 

繼續閱讀

敏迪選讀

手機裡的國際新聞台