Affiliation:
1. Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
Abstract
This article argues that we cannot separate theology on the one hand and politics, law and economy on the other when trying to understand how to deal with religious and cultural diversity. Through an historical examination of the formation of the right to religious liberty in the West, it shows that the European secular state is still deeply indebted with its theological presuppositions. This conclusion explains why systems of religiously based personal regimes are much less widespread in Europe than in other parts of the world. It also suggests that the best way to manage cultural and religious diversity in Europe consists in strengthening the pluralistic components of the European legal systems, as already shown by recent reforms in the field of family and commercial law.
Subject
Sociology and Political Science,Philosophy