Different Views on Religion and Government

There are seven main perspectives when it comes to the relationship between religion and government. The first perspective is secular suppression, where the government suppresses religion entirely, as seen in Marxism. The second perspective is religious separation, which argues for a radical separation between religion and government, exemplified by the Anabaptists. The third perspective is religious neutrality, believing that the government should be religiously neutral and not favor any particular religion. Classical liberalism and thinkers like John Rawls fit into this category. The fourth perspective is religious influence, where religion may influence the government within certain limits, but the government should not exclusively promote one religion. Many Baptists hold this view, along with theologians like Wayne Grudem and John Piper. The fifth perspective is similar to the fourth, but emphasizes influence over institutionalization. Christians can influence the government, but the government should not institutionalize Christianity. This is a common view in Baptist circles. The sixth perspective is government over religion, where the government governs and enforces religion, often seen in Islamic countries. And finally, the seventh perspective is the fusion of government and religion, where the government and religion are inseparable, often found in totalitarian regimes. These different views offer a range of positions on the relationship between religion and government, and can inform discussions on political theology.