Review article
NEW WINE IN OLD BOTTLES Tolerance, Law and Religion in Contemporary Europe
Silvio Ferrari
; Institute for International Law, Milano
Abstract
ln the article the author deals with the ever greater significance of
the religious factor on the political, cultural and social scenes of contemporary
Europe - with the process of deprivatization of religion,
followed by an increase of religious conflict, which indicates the possibility
that the return of the sacred may also include the return of
intolerance. The initial point of this process is the ideological void
created by the marginalization of the Marxist viewpoint and the crisis
of market liberalism which actualizes the interest for Christian
social learning. In view of Huntington's hypothesis that the future
brings the counterposition of civilizations (instead of political systems
and blocs) which leads to a reconsideration of Christian faith
as the primary element in the future confrontation with the Islam, the
author discusses the model of state laicism (the dominant type of
relationship between the state and religious communities in Western
Europe). The process of deprivatization of faith questions the
concept of laicism as the exclusive, or at least prevailing substance
of the state and social structures.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
32250
URI
Publication date:
1.11.1995.
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