Established church

The established church of a country is one that is supported by, and in some respects supports, the state. The support which the church receives from the state can be financial, as when the church receives funding from the state, or legal, as when the state creates legal obstacles to the practise of other religions. While a number of modern countries still technically have established or state religions, the rise of religious liberalism saw an inevitable loosening of the ties between church and state in many countries. In Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, the practice of religions other than Islam is still banned.