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'''Statism''' is the belief that the civil government (or man via civil government) is the ultimate authority in the earth and as such is the source of law, morality, and righteousness (that which is right and wrong).<ref>McDowell, S. [http://books.google.com/books?id=1nS-SiLt8o4C&lpg=PA15&dq=%22statism%20is%22%22&pg=PA15#v=onepage&q=%22statism%20is%20the%20belief%22%22&f=false ''Rendering to Caesar the Things that are God's]'' in Statism: the Golden Calf of the Modern World; Providence Foundation Biblical Worldview University; Charlottesville. p. 15, (2009)</ref> Statism has manifested itself in different ways throughout history, and can be expressed through [[democracy|democratic]] and non-democratic governments alike.

'''Statism''' is the belief that the civil government (or man via civil government) is the ultimate authority in the earth and as such is the source of law, morality, and righteousness (that which is right and wrong).<ref>McDowell, S. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1nS-SiLt8o4C&lpg=PA15&dq=%22statism%20is%22%22&pg=PA15#v=onepage&q=%22statism%20is%20the%20belief%22%22&f=false ''Rendering to Caesar the Things that are God's]'' in Statism: the Golden Calf of the Modern World; Providence Foundation Biblical Worldview University; Charlottesville. p. 15, (2009)</ref> Statism has manifested itself in different ways throughout history, and can be expressed through [[democracy|democratic]] and non-democratic governments alike.

==Philosophical foundations==

==Philosophical foundations==

A statist government treats its political [[sovereignty]] as a platform for moral sovereignty. In other words, as ultimate sovereign, the state is therefore not subject to [[God]], the [[Bible]], [[natural law]], or any other [[religion]] or ethical system. A statist government need not be accountable to its own citizens.  

A statist government treats its political [[sovereignty]] as a platform for moral sovereignty. In other words, as ultimate sovereign, the state is therefore not subject to [[God]], the [[Bible]], [[natural law]], or any other [[religion]] or ethical system. A statist government need not be accountable to its own citizens.  

The philosopher [[Hegel|Georg Hegel]] described the state as "God walking on earth".<ref>House, H.W. (ed). ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=kT3v3SHYbCEC&pg=PA143&dq=%22God+walking+on+earth%22+Hegel&hl=en&ei=K9BITaCXAYXMuAPj67G5BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22God%20walking%20on%20earth%22%20Hegel&f=false The Christian and American law: Christianity's impact on America's founding documents and future direction]''. Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids; p. 143 (1998)</ref> In other words, as the state is the ultimate power in life, it assumes the status of God and can do as it pleases. This line of thinking influenced the political thought of [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Karl Marx]]. From the perspective of society at large, this attitude was summed up by William Marina as:

The philosopher [[Hegel|Georg Hegel]] described the state as "God walking on earth".<ref>House, H.W. (ed). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=kT3v3SHYbCEC&pg=PA143&dq=%22God+walking+on+earth%22+Hegel&hl=en&ei=K9BITaCXAYXMuAPj67G5BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22God%20walking%20on%20earth%22%20Hegel&f=false The Christian and American law: Christianity's impact on America's founding documents and future direction]''. Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids; p. 143 (1998)</ref> In other words, as the state is the ultimate power in life, it assumes the status of God and can do as it pleases. This line of thinking influenced the political thought of [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Karl Marx]]. From the perspective of society at large, this attitude was summed up by William Marina as:

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==Quotes==

==Quotes==

* [[Ronald Reagan]] famously said, "The ten most dangerous words in the English language are "Hi, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

* [[Ronald Reagan]] famously said, "The ten most dangerous words in the English language are "Hi, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

* Among conservatives, [[libertarian]]s and [[anarchist]]s, "The State" referred to in "Statism" is [[big government]] that derives its power through [[coercion]] via the threat of violence. According to conservative libertarian pundit [[Stefan Molyneux]], "The idea that The State is capable of solving social problems is now viewed with great skepticism - which foretells a coming change. As soon as [[skepticism]] is applied to the State, the State falls, since it fails at everything except increasing its power, and so can only survive on [[propaganda]], which relies on unquestioning faith."<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1919879/bio?ref_=nmbio_ql_dyk_1#quotes Quotes from Stefan on IMDB.com]. Accessed January 25, 2016</ref>

* Among conservatives, [[libertarian]]s and [[anarchist]]s, "The State" referred to in "Statism" is [[big government]] that derives its power through [[coercion]] via the threat of violence. According to conservative libertarian pundit [[Stefan Molyneux]], "The idea that The State is capable of solving social problems is now viewed with great skepticism - which foretells a coming change. As soon as [[skepticism]] is applied to the State, the State falls, since it fails at everything except increasing its power, and so can only survive on [[propaganda]], which relies on unquestioning faith."<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1919879/bio?ref_=nmbio_ql_dyk_1#quotes Quotes from Stefan on IMDB.com]. Accessed January 25, 2016</ref>

== Examples of statist nations and regimes ==

== Examples of statist nations and regimes ==