...a clear contest between church and state.是什么意思？

...a clear contest between church and state.

教会与政府之间明显的争斗

clear

adj. 清楚的，明白的，清晰的，明亮的，清澈的，明确的；adv. 完全地，清晰地，整整；vi. 变明朗，变清澈；vt. 扫除，除去，消除（嫌疑），使清楚，使干净；n. 空隙，空间；

例句
It became very clear that the incident was not just an aberration, it was not just a single incident.
事实已经很清楚，这件事不是偶发的，它并不是一起孤立的事件。

contest

vt. 竞争，为…而奋争，辩驳；vi. 争斗，竞争，争夺；

例句
It is still a close contest between two leading opposition parties...
这仍然是两大主要反对党之间一场势均力敌的较量。

between

prep. 在…之间，私下，暗中，在…中任择其一，来往于…之间；adv. 当中，中间；

例句
How big is the abyss between what you think you are and what you actually are?
你对自己的认识和真实的你之间差别到底有多大？

church

n. [宗]教堂，[宗]教徒，[宗]教派，[宗]教会；adj. 教会的，礼拜的；vt. 领…到教堂接受宗教仪式；

例句
He spent his adolescent years playing guitar in the church band.
他在教堂的乐队里弹吉他，度过了他的青少年时期。

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

state

n. 国家，州，状况，情况，资

例句
Danny returned to Father's house in a state of intense agitation...
丹尼回到神父的房子时显得极为焦虑不安。