Concept of the separation of church and state

The concept of the separation of church and state is nearly as old as the institution of the church itself. Refusing to pay homage to the pantheon of Roman gods or to recognize the divinity of the Roman emperor, the early Christians were subjected to a number of brutal persecutions at the hands of the Roman governments--especially in the mid-third and early fourth centuries. However, following the conversion of Constantine in 312, and his subsequent ascension to Emperor, the new relationship between the Christian church and a Christian emperor formed the foundation of church-state relations in the Roman Empire and into the Middle Ages (Todd, 1977, p. 130).

By the fourth century, two major sects of Christianity, the Arians and the Nicenes, were in fierce competition with one another. The principal distinction between the two was the controversy over the person of Christ and the triune nature of God. Depending upon the beliefs of the Emperor, followers of one sect or another found themselves in or out of favor with the government.

At the time, Milan was the site of the western Emperor's residence. Auxentius, the Arian bishop of Milan, died in 373, and the Roman governor, Ambrose, feared that violence between the Arians and Nicenes would erupt. The customary practice was for the bishop to be elected by popular vote, and as Ambrose began to deliver an appeal for calm to the crowd gathered in the basilica, he suddenly found himself elected bishop--despite the fact t

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ause we know that those temptations are more severe which are brought about through women (Beyenka, 1954, p. 370). Then he recounts how he answered the Emperor: "Scripture says: 'What things are God's to God, what are Caesar's to Caesar' (Matt. 22:21). Palaces belong to the emperor, churches to the bishop" (Beyenka, 1954, p. 371). And further, when word comes that the Emperor has said, "I, too, ought to have a basilica," Ambrose writes that his reply was, "It is not lawful for you to have one. What have you to do with an adulteress? She is an adulteress who is not joined to Christ by lawful union!" (Beyenka, 1954, pp. 371-372). Clearly, he believed that Justina was the sole force behind the effort to secure a church building for the Arians. Yet, by Thursday, the Emperor had relented, the soldiers were withdrawn from the Portian Basilica, the fines extracted from the merchants were returned, and the people rejoiced! "What cheering from the whole crowd! What thanksgiving! . . . I knew that God had smitten the early worm so that the whole city might be saved" (Beyenka, 1954, p. 375). And in the face of a final threat from the grand chamberlain that his life would be taken, Ambrose wrote to his sister: "May God turn

Category: History - C