History of the Church

eligious interest vs. political interest

Abstract

We live in a period in which religion and politics occupy distinct spheres. This study presents the historical development of the Church from its emergence in the first century through the period of the Crusades, demonstrating how important the Catholic Church was to the formation of humanity and how its presence has remained continuous on the global political stage, especially in Europe. The objective of this study is to analyze the history of the Church through a panoramic perspective of the relationship between Church and State. The secularization of the State's legal and political framework, while reaffirming the autonomy and supremacy of law over other forms of normative order, would also reduce the claims of religious groups to impose their norms upon society as a whole. Although the Constitution and national legislation firmly establish the separation between the political and religious spheres, the interaction and multiple consequences arising from these two dimensions of social life remain highly significant. The relationship between religion and politics in Brazil extends across different historical periods and contexts, undergoing continuous adaptations and transformations while maintaining a close dialogue with social, political, and economic dynamics.