Religion and State in Secular Europe Today (Paperback)

Paperback. The relation between religion and state in modern European history ischaracterized by a dual exercise: safeguarding freedom of religion forall citizens and simultaneously guaranteeing civil governance free fromdomination by religious authorities. While both religion and state havepotential power to suppress personal freedom and development and to keepsocieties in a deadlock, the present volume notes that in recent decadespolitical and academic discourse has increasingly focused on thepotential negative influence of religion. By consequence, historicalattitudes of benevolence of European states towards religion arereplaced by suspicion and historical religion-state relations arequestioned and torn down. Meanwhile, a so-called secular humanistworldview is presented in the public arena as not just an alternative toreligions, but as actually superior to religious worldviews. In thiscross-disciplinary volume, ten scholars critically scrutinize thesedevelopments in two sections. First, theoretical considerations aim torethink what healthy relations between religion and state should looklike in contemporary secularized Europe. Ongoing negotiations on themeaning of terms such as secularity, neutrality and laicite areanalyzed and the purview of the right to religious freedom isreconsidered. Second, case studies from throughout Europe demonstratethe effects of past and ongoing societal developments on religiousagents and their communities, which seek to take up their place insociety. As a joint effort, this book aims to contribute to ongoingscholarly debate, not by providing simple and direct answers, but byasking questions and offering nuanced perspectives on the topics at hand. The relation between religion and state in modern European history is characterized by a dual exercise: safeguarding freedom of religion for all citizens and simultaneously guaranteeing civil governance free from domination by religious authorities. While both religion and state have potential power to suppress personal freedom and d Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. …