The present volume analyzes new developments concerning religious issues, faith-based organizations, State-Church relations and secularism in the EU, which especially during the past two decades have undergone profound changes, changes...
moreThe present volume analyzes new developments concerning religious issues, faith-based organizations, State-Church relations and secularism in the EU, which especially during the past two decades have undergone profound changes, changes which continuously and increasingly alter mentalities and habits, whether belief-related or not. In this collective work, authors develop the major themes that are relevant to their country of expertise, while a final chapter is devoted to the role of the European Courts (ECHR and EU). The different chapters show that in recent years, religion, once thought to be of minor importance in a highly secular society, has made quite a vigorous political comeback. Thus Europe seems to have reached a crucial point in its history, a moment in which future tendencies in the field of religion and secularism are being defined, and negotiated. There is little doubt that the outcome of this process will influence the continent’s future outlook, as well as its role and relevance in an increasingly globalized world.
CONTENTS:
Foreword............................................................................................11
Jan Nelis
Austria. The Pluri-Religious Challenge of a Secular State
Ready to Integrate Religion into the Public Space...........................15
Richard Potz
Belgium. The Challenge of a Highly Secularized Yet Multiconfessional Society..................................................................21
Caroline Sägesser
Bulgaria. Encounters between Religion and Secularism
in a Post-Atheist Society....................................................................27
Daniela Kalkandjieva
Croatia. The Role of Religion in a Predominantly
Catholic Country...............................................................................33
Siniša Zrinščak
Cyprus. A Deeply Religious Society..................................................39
Victor Roudometof
The Czech Republic. New Challenges for Churches
in a Highly Secularized Society.........................................................45
Roman Vido
Denmark. The Still Prominent Role of the
National Church and Religious Traditions.......................................51
Henrik Reintoft Christensen
Estonia. The Debate on the Role of Religion
in a Deeply Secular State...................................................................57
Ringo Ringvee
Finland. A Christian, Secular and Increasingly
Religiously Diverse Country.............................................................63
Teemu Taira
France. The Struggle for Laïcité........................................................69
Anne-Laure Zwilling
Germany. The Challenge of Religious Pluralism
and Secularization.............................................................................75
Sylvie Toscer-Angot
Greece. The Politics of Secularization and the Financial Crisis........81
Konstantinos Papastathis
Hungary. Declining Church Religiosity and Increasing
Religious Individualization in a Post-Communist Country............89
Gergely Rosta
Ireland. The Erosion of the Catholic Church’s
Authority and Power.........................................................................95
Brian Conway
Italy. Secularization, Abstract Model vs. Reality.............................101
Giuseppe Casuscelli
Latvia. An Example of Christian Diversity.....................................107
Anita Stasulane
Lithuania. Catholic Church and Public Debates............................113
Milda Ališauskienë
Luxembourg. New Legal Dispositions in a Changing
Religious Landscape........................................................................119
Antoinette Reuter
Malta. A Society with Values in Turmoil.........................................127
Mario Vassallo
The Netherlands. The Impact of Secularization
on a Pillar-Based Society.................................................................135
Agnieszka Szumigalska
Poland. The Catholic Church’s Influence on Social,
Political and Private Life.................................................................141
Michał Czelny, Marta Ordon and Michał Zawiślak
Portugal. A Lingering Catholicism.................................................147
Henrique Machado-Jorge
Romania. Exploring the Bond between Church, State,
and Nation.......................................................................................155
Olivier Gillet
Slovakia. Secularization of Public Life and
Desecularization of the State...........................................................161
Miroslav Tížik
Slovenia. The Catholic Church between Historical
Heritage and Current Financial Problems......................................169
Egon Pelikan
Spain. Important Changes in Religious
Landscape and Public Policy...........................................................175
Julia Martínez-Ariño
Sweden. Blurring Boundaries: Patterns
of Contemporary Religiosity...........................................................181
Ann af Burén
The United Kingdom. The Prevalence of Secularism.....................187
Anthony Bradney
Religion as Seen by the European Authorities.
Liberty, Equality and Non-Discrimination within
the Council of Europe and the European Union............................193
Gabrielle Caceres
Religion in the European Union. A Conclusion.............................211
Jean-Philippe Schreiber
