The importance of legal convergence in the actions of the state regarding relations with the church: a comparative approach

• Main Authors: Viacheslav Blikhar, Mariia Blikhar, Mykola Kozlovets
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rzeszow University of Technology 2020-09-01
• Series: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Subjects: church; state; state-church relations; christianity; catholicism; orthodoxy; christian outlook; religious organizations
• Online Access: https://hss.prz.edu.pl/hss/article/view/93
• ISSN: 2300-5327; 2300-9918

This paper examines the influence of state authorities on the approval of church-state relations. State power constantly intersects in various levels with church institutions due to the specific nature of its activities. The church and the state cooperate in the development of philosophical and social concepts, specific social programs, andin determining the progress and direction of society. The article demonstrates that anthropocentric ideas of Christianity are of great importance in ensuring the stability and effectiveness of state and church relations. The social and political partnership of the authorities and the church is always built on the reconciliation of mutual interests of the partner entities, and political relationships can take many forms: dialogue, partnership, cooperation, indifference, rivalry, conflict, domination and subordination. The historical forms of state-church relations are characterized through an in-depth analysis of different countries, in particular Russia and Poland, and we outline prospects for further development We argue that the Christian worldview is deeply rooted in the Ukrainian mentality, socio-philosophical space, and state-building processes. An existential interpretation of time is revealed as an important constant in the formation and construction of anthropological and social space. It is especiallyimportant to take into account the phenomenon of human rights and the education of citizens. We argue that a society with an awareness of the primacy of an individual over society will reject and oppose totalitarian ideologies. In order to ensure the partnership and stability of public authorities and the church, representatives of the state must promote the implementation of Christian moral-ethical and anthropological ideas and ideals into social practice. By being aware of their calling, government officials can positively influence the development of legal relations in the church dimension of being. Priority area should include the educational, legal, and religious dimension of the existing Ukrainian state.