The Unexpected Consequences of State Support for Religion
An Empirical Analysis of Christian-Majority Countries
Jonathan Fox author Ariel Zellman author Marie Eisenstein author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:27th Jul '26
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The Unexpected Consequences of State Support for Religion: An Empirical Analysis of Christian-Majority addresses the consequences of one of the most basic decisions a government must make when dealing with religion: the decision to support a state religion or to provide separation of religion and state and religious freedom.
Drawing on the rational choice literature on religion and politics as well as the broader literature on religion in the social sciences, this book takes the perspective that politicians and governments decide on government-religion policy based on their own interests. It tests five potential consequences of supporting a state reli>gion in Christian-majority countries: religiosity (how religious are people in the country?), governmental legitimacy, levels of both public and private morality in a country, social trust, and patterns of violence and social unrest. Many empirical analyses reveal unexpected costs and benefits of supporting a state religion. For example, while most assume that when governments support a religion, it is at least in part because they believe it will increase their legitimacy, this book finds, with some exceptions, that this is not the case. Similarly, it finds an incentive structure that perversely incentivizes increased discrimination against religious
minorities.
The Unexpected Consequences of State Support for Religion will appeal to scholars and students of politics, religion, and sociology, particularly those interested in Christian nationalism and government and state politics.
"What are the social consequences of states' crucial decision whether to prop up one religion and repress the others, or to respect and protect the freedom of all religious people and organizations in their population? Are the consequences what officials intend? Which decision has which consequences? Surprisingly few social scientists have tested this colossally important question -- until now. Professors Fox, Eisenstein and Zellman have shown us what governments' religion policy means for religiosity, morality, trust, violence, harmony, and other phenomena that are critical to the common good of every society. In an era in which religion stands at the center of the sharpest social fractures in both western and non-western countries, their findings are indispensable for social scientists -- and for everyone."
Daniel Philpott, Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame
"More than any previous empirical research, this book demonstrates and explains the consequences of state support for religion. This is a major study that offers more than a few surprises. The policy implications are many. Relying on a wealth of data, this research answers a host of theoretical and policy questions on the costs and benefits of states supporting religion. It is impressive, both for the breadth of questions addressed and the depth of the data used to address the questions."
Roger Finke, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Religious Studies, and International Affairs at the Pennsylvania State University.
ISBN: 9781041332473
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 690g
274 pages