Introduction
On a global level, we are witnessing a renewed focus on religion, being an important factor within international politics and conflicts. Once again religion is on the active political agenda, particularly where contemporary Islamic elements are involved.
The secularized western world, with its neutral perspective on religion, is facing new challenges when dealing with religion. This because politics and religion and the balance between them is what characterizes that what we believe to be an intrinsic and fundamental part of the secular state construction.
The idea of freedom of religion is secured in western secular constitutions. Western democratic states are obliged to respect the religious activities of their citizens and to secure their free development. Therefore, the state is principally neither allowed to favor nor to discriminate against certain professions of faith. This concept is also called ‘equidistance’ . It is a basic principle of state neutrality: it commits the state to generally withdraw from religious issues, especially the political act of defining what can legitimately be classified as religion and religious behavior.
In respect to the new challenges, as mentioned above, however, the principle of state neutrality and the maintenance of this principle find’s itself under pressure. Western states are increasingly confronted with religious elements within society that have an impact on society in general. Especially religious fundamentalism and consequent terrorist threats show this. Society, state and religion are in different ways interlinked and confronted with each other. How can we shed some light on these processes?
An Historical and a Sociological Approach to the Idea of Freedom of Religion
The sep ...