European Integration,Laïcitéand Religion

Abstract

Laı¨cite´, which must not be identified with the French system of church-state relations, is a European value. The fundamental principles of laı¨cite´are established throughout Europe, though with variations according to the particular church-state relationship applicable in member countries. The three fundamentals principles of laı¨cite´are the following: (1) freedom of conscience, thought and religion; (2) equal rights and duties of all citizens; (3) the respective autonomy of the state and religions. In Europe, the dominant model of church-state relations, which differs depending on the country in question, is one of recognised religions. This means that the respective autonomy of churches and the state is often associated with various forms of church-state cooperation. This kind of laı¨cite´has been sanctioned by the Treaty of Lisbon.

After Secularism

“…This surprise suggests a continued belief in the overall irrationality of religion, making it antithetical to supposedly modernized, secularized societies such as the West, and especially Europe. Further, however, these studies, with few exceptions (Jakelić 2006), still seem to focus predominantly on the role and influence of religious actors and institutions, over and above religion's ideational dimensions (Davie 2006;Foret 2009;Leustean and Maddeley 2009;Willaime 2009). Philpott's (2002: 83) article 'The Challenge of September 11 to secularism in International Relations' focuses specifically on the 'challenge of radical Islamic revivalism to secularised International Relations'.…”

Islam Returns to Spain: Religious Diversity, Political Discourse and Women's Rights

“…Different European countries have found different ways of managing these two forces (Foret 2009;Willaime 2009). In Spain, where Islam, with some 1.73 million adherents as of the end of 2013 (Unión de Comunidades Islámicas de España 2014), is now the second religion, the starting point for the position of religion in state and society is Article 16 of the Constitution of 1978(Constitución Española 1978 16.1 Freedom of ideology [ideología], religion and worship of individuals and of collectivities is guaranteed without any restriction in their manifestations beyond what is necessary for the maintenance of public order as protected by law.…”

Ustavnopravni modeli odnosa između države i crkava i verskih zajednica u Evropi

“…75 Postoje međutim i shvatanja prema kojima laičnost (laicitet) zasno-vana na slobodi misli, savesti i veroispovesti, jednakim pravima i dužnostima građana bez obzira na njihovu versku pripadnost i poštovanju autonomije države i religija, u različitim formama i u različitom stepenu, postoji zapravo u svim evropskim državama i da je suštinski povezana sa priznavanjem veroispovesti kao osnovnim modelom evropske laičnosti. 76 Polazeći od izloženog poimanja laič-nosti ističe se da se Lisabonski ugovor odredbom prema kojoj će Unija, prepozna-vajući identitet i specifičan doprinos crkava, održavati otvoreni, transparen-tan i redovan dijalog sa njima, postavlјa u perspektivu zajedničku većini država članica koja se može označiti kao laičnost priznanja, laičnost koja priznaje, na zvaničnoj osnovi, javnu ulogu crkava u demokratskom životu društva. 77 Pravo EZ dakle deli zajedničke karakteristike sa tzv.…”