ABSTRACT

In some states, and for some individuals and communities, religion is and has been a constant and continuous source of guidance, authority and rules but for many, particularly in Europe, modern times have been more commonly associated with secularism. Against a background of presumed secularism, recent years have seen something of a sudden, surprising and largely unanticipated religious revival and, in many countries religious issues are giving rise to social, political and legal concerns. 1 Religion appears to have been revived in various ways: the visible presence of minority communities, identified by religion, living within otherwise secular states; the proliferation of faith-based schools; the legal enforcement of individual religious rights; a rise, in certain regions, in individual religious interest, belief and adherence; the growing media presence of religious figures and religious voices and mounting concern over the words and actions associated with extremist or fundamentalist religious belief and identity.