To bring under or subject to state control, particularly regarding religious institutions or authority; to make erastian in character.
From 'Erastian' (relating to state authority over the church) + '-ize' (verb suffix meaning to cause to become or to practice). This verb emerged in theological and political discourse to describe the process of subordinating church to state.
When historians say a country 'erastianized' its religion, they're describing how the government took control of churches—this happened spectacularly in England when Henry VIII basically declared himself the head of the church to get around the Pope!
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