ABSTRACT
This chapter is devoted to describing the main historical stages that have led to the emergence of eminent western models of relations between the state law and religious rules. In this sense, the chapter will consider if and when Islam (as a religious-political legal system) and Muslims (as individuals belonging to a belief other than Christianity) have taken part in such a developmental process and which role they have allegedly played in it. That, on the other hand, assists in understanding how these kinds of models have been dealing with the increasing cultural and religious diversity of European societies, in which Islam is now playing a significant role. This is certainly the case of Italy, where the system of law-religion relations has always been dominated by the deeply entrenched authority of the Catholic Church.
