The Modern-Day Theory of the State is Secularized Theological Concept - Essay Example

The Modern Day Theory of the are Secularized Theological Concepts The connection between modern day theory of the state and the theological traditions of the medieval period has been for a long time disputed. This dispute has mainly been as a result of the belief within the modern theory that the state is completely separated from religion and that it is an entity on its own without the influence of the latter. Such beliefs have led some modern scholars not to acknowledge the influence of theological concepts on the realities of modern politics. Most western democracies, especially those of Europe, developed as a result of the massive conflict that existed between them and the state and this concerning where the authority of the Church ended and that of the state begun. This paper seeks to show that the theory of the state in the modern world is essentially a secularisation of theological concepts. One of the greatest theological concepts that have been inherited by modern theory is that of leadership, specifically that concerning executive power or authority. The theological concept of leadership in the medieval period stated that kings ruled by divine right and as a result, their authority was absolute. This concept has essentially remained in place in the modern world where, despite the development of democratic systems, some rulers are often given the authority to act as they see fit by their constitutions (Marshall 1992, p.300). The state of emergency is a period where a ruler acts as he sees fit in order to secure the state against the chaos of anarchy, creating a situation where rulers in the modern world have retained, albeit in a secular way, the absolute authority that they had through divine right. The secularisation of theological concepts has taken place since the ancient Greek period and this has been a necessary part of the reality of the state. The use of theological concepts in modern politics is based on the belief that the state has to do all it can in order to ensure that the interests of its people are protected (Rothstein and Teorell 2008, p.165). The belief in divine right has been inherited through the creation of a constitutional state where the duties of the state and powers of the state are well defined in a bid to bring about a situation where the interests of the people in relation to the state are balanced. It is through the medieval theological concepts of the authority of the ruler that today, there has developed the concept of executive presidents whose powers match or are even more that those held by medieval monarchs. It can be argued that all the significant concepts that are used to describe the modern political system are secularisations of theological concepts. This is mainly as a result of the long Christian tradition that has influenced a large number of political thinkers in the modern world. It is through these concepts that modern politics has tended to develop in such a manner that it leans towards authoritarian or totalitarian theories (Wilks, 2014). In modern politics, it is normal for leaders to present themselves as saviors who will bring their people the services that they desire the most. Furthermore, modern politics also has an element of devotion which has developed as a result of the creation of the nation state in the later nineteenth to the twentieth century. The theological concept of salvation has been inherited by modern politics and political thought through leaders being seen as Messianic figures that have the ability to bring about desired changes in society. During political rallies, it is not uncommon for leaders to be associated with Messianic slogans which are designed to make the public gain confidence in them and take their side on different issues. Furthermore, it is essential to note that the development of the nation state made it possible for the people within it to develop a strong dedication to it which can only be comparable to the devotion that individuals once held for God. The nation state has become one of the most important political concepts in the modern world as a result of its coming to replace the absolute belief in God that was prevalent in the medieval period. During the medieval period, the Church was the dominant force on the European continent and the pope in Rome wielded almost absolute authority over all kingdoms in the region. Since the pope was considered to be the regent of Christ on earth, he was both a religious and secular figure, his authority was hardly ever questioned and this was led to complete devotion to the Church (Tierney 1982, p.60). However, with the rise of the nation state, this devotion was transferred to the state as individuals came to place more devotion to their own nations and people rather than to their religion. The theological concept of devotion; therefore, transferred itself to the state, which became the dominant player in the political scene. The modern theory of the state has come about as a result of the manner through which the exceptions to the controls of a ruler’s power are handled. This is especially the case in circumstances where rulers who are constitutionally restrained can wield absolute power through calling for a state of emergency. One of the biggest proponents of this concept was Carl Schmitt, who believed that sovereigns, despite being constrained in wielding absolute power by their constitutions, still had the ability to shape the destinies of their states through using the power that they had in their mandate (Schmitt 1922, p.64). It should be noted that the use of such exceptions is what leads to totalitarianism, a concept that Schmitt was famous for. A significant example of the manner through which individual rulers can use the exceptions to their wielding absolute power is in the case of Nazi Germany. When Adolf Hitler came to power, he instituted a state of emergency in Germany, which would last to the end of his rule. The exception in this case comes about because the German constitution at the time allowed the president to use emergency powers in situations where he perceived that the state was in danger. Hitler took advantage of this exception to develop a totalitarian system dominated by the Nazi Party that would wield its power in Germany for twelve years. These powers were used to stifle dissent as well as those political parties that were opposed to the Nazis; essentially ensuring the latter’s dominance in German politics. Moreover, in a bid to be seen to adhere to the constitution, Hitler renewed the state of emergency every four years and through this method managed to remain in power without having to go for elections. The modern theory of the state was developed as a result of the direct involvement of religious adherents so that they came to have an influence on how the state developed. Concepts such as justice as well as democracy have been heavily influenced by theological concepts as seen through a belief in what is right and wrong (Rawls 2001, p.18). It is through the involvement of religious adherents in the political process that despite the separation of Church and State, there developed a system where Christian ethics became dominant in the modern political process and it is through these ethics that the justification of democracy came into being (Maier 1995, p.75). One notable aspect of theology in modern political thought is in the manner through which it has come to influence how democratic practice and theory is understood. During the Civil Right Era, for example, theological concepts were used to effectively pass and essentially political message that all human beings were made equal and as such deserved to be accorded equal treatment by the law. The concept of the equality of man developed during the Enlightenment period, which saw an almost complete break with the ideas which were common in the medieval period. However, while this was the case, aspects of medieval theological thinking remained a basic part of Enlightenment thinking, these especially being based in the relationship between individuals and the state. Modern political thought came into being during the Enlightenment, leading to a situation where individuals came to transfer their adherence to the Church as a unifying factor and instead transferring their allegiance to the nation-state which became the main focus of devotion. In the modern age, following the theological concept of religious freedom, democracy has come to be considered to be essential in the political development of all the peoples in the world because it allows them to actively participate in the governing processes of their own countries. But while this may be the case, it can be said that political parties, which developed as a result of the involvement of different theological factions in politics, have also become a necessary part of the democratic process because they enable the further development of the much needed democratic ideals as well as the implementation of these ideals to ensure that they become a reality in society (Rothstein 2010, p.3). Political parties have become essential in the democratic system because they enable individuals from all walks of life to have a means through which they can be adequately represented in a manner that is free and transparent for all to see. The fact that they are vehicles for the further development of the society cannot be underestimated because political parties can be said to be the foundation upon which the democratic system as practiced is built and without them, then the democracy which has been long practiced and has become a basic part of society would end up being meaningless. It is a fact that the emergence of political parties has led to the further development the democratic ideals as well as modern political theories. In conclusion, the discussion above has shown that the theory of the state in the modern world is essentially a secularisation of theological concepts. It has been noted that among the greatest theological concepts that have been inherited by modern theory is that of leadership, specifically that concerning executive power or authority. Furthermore, it has been argued that all the significant concepts that are used to describe the modern political system are secularisations of theological concepts. In addition, it has been found that the modern theory of the state has come about as a result of the manner through which the exceptions to the controls of a ruler’s power are handled. The modern theory of the state was developed as a result of the direct involvement of religious adherents so that they came to have an influence on how the state developed. Finally, in the modern age, following the theological concept of religious freedom, democracy has come to be considered to be essential in the political development of all the peoples in the world because it allows them to actively participate in the governing processes of their own countries. References Maier, H., 1995. Carl Schmitt and Leo Strauss: The hidden dialogue. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Marshall, P., 1992. Demanding the impossible. New York: Harper Collins. pp. 300–1. Rawls, J., 2001. Justice as Fairness: A Restatement. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Rothstein, B. & Teorell, J., 2008. “What Is Quality of Government? A Theory of Impartial Government Institutions”, Governance, 21(2), pp. 165–190. Rothstein, B. 2010. “Happiness and the Welfare State’, Social Research,” 77(2), 2010, pp. 1-28. Schmitt, C. 1922. Political theology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Tierney, B. 1982. Religion, law, and the growth of constitutional thought, 1150-1650. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Wilks, M.B., 2014. “Theories of Multicultural Toleration: An Examination of Justice as Fairness and Political Theology.” Student Pulse. [Online] Available at: http://www.studentpulse.com/a?id=874 [accessed 27 Feb. 2015] Read More