ABSTRACT
This timely volume discusses the much debated and controversial subject of the presence of religion in the public sphere. The book is divided in three sections. In the first the public/private distinction is studied mainly from a theoretical point of view, through the contributions of lawyers, philosophers and sociologists. In the following sections their proposals are tested through the analysis of two case studies, religious dress codes and places of worship. These sections include discussions on some of the most controversial recent cases from around Europe with contributions from some of the leading experts in the area of law and religion. Covering a range of very different European countries including Turkey, the UK, Italy and Bulgaria, the book uses comparative case studies to illustrate how practice varies significantly even within Europe. It reveals how familiarization with religious and philosophical diversity in Europe should lead to the modification of legal frameworks historically designed to accommodate majority religions. This in turn should give rise to recognition of new groups and communities and eventually, a more adequate response to the plurality of religions and beliefs in European society.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|134 pages
Religions and the Public/Private Divide
chapter 4|24 pages
The ‘Public-Private' Divide on Drift
chapter 7|20 pages
Contested Normative Cultures
part II|136 pages
Religion and the Dress Codes
chapter 9|32 pages
From Front-Office to Back-Office
chapter 14|18 pages
Comparing Burqa Debates in Europe
part III|79 pages
Religion and the Places of Worship