The Relationship between States and Religion: an Overview of the Situation in the World

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between states and religions around the world. The following classification of states is given in this respect: states supporting one religion; states with a preference for several religions; states that do not identify themselves with any particular belief or religion; states that exercise strict control over religious institutions on their territory or have a negative attitude towards religion in general. The authors conclude that, in general, the various approaches to the relationship between the state and religion are dictated by various cultural and political aspects, but from the point of view of international law, only the model of state-church relations that discriminates or prohibits certain religions carries a certain danger.