An Analysis Of The Evolution Of Relations Between State And Church In Iran During The Reza Khan Period (1921-1941

The coexistence of secular authority and religious authority is a remarkable feature of Iranian state-religious relations.This paoer analyse the transition from coorperation to conflict at different stages and try to impact of modernization process to Ulema and deep-seated reason why Iran choose a road to modern with rich religious colour.This paper divided into four parts and the first part explore the concept of relation between state and religion.Through compare the different of state-religious relation between Christian and Islam and particular the Sunny and Shi'i inside the Islam.The next part emphasis on the state-Islam relation since the beginning of Safavid Dynasty,especially the Tobaccos Protest Movement and the Iran Constitutionism movementThe Reza Khan period can be divided into there phase and the second part of the paper concern on the first period.It was started from the 1921 coup and ended in the collapse of Qajar dynasty.Reza Khan have no power to change the traditional modal of state-religious relation and actively seek to cooperate with Ulema,especially he build a friendly relation with Iranian Ulema exiled from Iraq.At the same he abondan the republicanism and it resulted the establishment of Pahlavi dynasty in 1925.The third part pay attention to the turning period from 1925 to 1928.Reza Khan implement the coscripption law and King's own party in parliament to consolidate the power.Finally he assert the principle that Throne is higher than religious hierarchy in 1928 Qum affair.The last part of the paper is the emphasis on the secular reform of Reza Khan in 1928-1941.Not only did the Reza Khan stress on the religion on nation-state buliding,but also he carry out secular policy to eliminate the privilege of Ulema in judiciary education and social custom.Facing with secular reform,the Ulema presence three different responses:resistance,acceptance and professionalization.