Religion and Politics—From the Perspective of Lutheran Christianity

Protestant Christianity has, from the 16th century onward, developed an understanding of politics and the state that gives it a strong and independent role. This was the result of a process of differentiation between religion and politics, which strengthened both sides. In this paper, the result is described: how the state and how politics are understood within Protestant Christianity, what consequences this has and what misunderstandings can occur. Special explanation is given to the Lutheran concept of the two regiments of God. The peculiarities of the Protestant state concept are then further described with the Lutheran understanding of the social state and of the military service of Christians.