Nexus between Democratic Governance and the Church

Abstract

This article's primary goal is to investigate the Church's relationship to democratic governance. Whether the Church facilitates or hinders the process of democratic conversion and consolidation is the primary inquiry being investigated. The primary conclusion that can be drawn, therefore, is that there is no significant threat from the Church to the continued development of democracy in any nation. Additionally, the more general issue of how church and state interactions should be conducted in a democratic governance is taken into consideration. A primary inference that could be made from this research is that the existence of a powerful religious establishment does not always impede democratic processes. Instead, as long as two requirements are satisfied, collaboration between the state and the church is appropriate, even desired. Firstly, complete religious freedom must be accorded to every individual. Second, the rest of society cannot be forced to adopt the dominant religious institution's definition of the "good life."

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