ABSTRACT
Civil societies are characterized by a number of diverse parts and specialized functions, on the one hand, and a special mechanism of coordination, integration, and control, on the other. This special mechanism should have a name, and we have decided to call it the state-church. We do this because this mechanism always has both a secular and civil aspect and an ecclesiastical aspect; state and church properly designate aspects of this coordinative, integrative mechanism rather than separate entities. Unless we coin a new term we must rely upon usage, and state-church seems to be the most suitable term that usage affords.
