美国殖民地时期政教关系探析

Church-State Relations in Colonial America

美国殖民地时期的宗教情形十分复杂 ,目前对其政教关系状况还认识不一。本文根据各个殖民地的宗教立法和实践情形把其归纳为三种类型 ,第一种类型是实行政教分离和宗教自由的殖民地 ,第二种类型是确立英国国教为官方宗教的殖民地 ,第三种类型是独尊“清教”

Owing to the great complexity of the religious situation in the time of colonial America, there are divergent views among scholars of the then church and state relationship. In accordance with their religious legislations and practices, the colonies can be grouped into three categories. The first category includes those colonies that practiced the separation of the church from the state and the freedom of religion. The second incorporates those which affirmed the Established Church of England as their official religion. The third is the territory in northern New England where most settlers were puritans.