Erastianism – Definition and Meaning

Erastianism is a theological and political doctrine that asserts the supremacy of the state over the church in ecclesiastical matters. This concept is named after the 16th-century theologian Thomas Erastus, who argued that civil authorities should have control over the church and its governance, particularly in matters of discipline and doctrine. Erastianism challenges the idea of church independence and posits that the state has the right to intervene in religious affairs.