Religions, law and societies in Europe

lsrel2230  2018-2019  Louvain-la-Neuve

Religions, law and societies in Europe
4 credits
30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Christians Louis-Léon;
Language
French
Main themes
The legal status of religious diversity in Europe. The relationship between religious laws and state laws. The variety and comparison between State regulation of Religions in Europe. Ways to prevent and resolve religious conflicts, both in terms of private ethical questions and of public policy. An interdisciplinary approach through law, political philosophy, theology and sociology of european religious diversity.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1

At the end, the student shall be able to put into perspective the evolution of the modes of State regulation of religions in modern societies.

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled ¿Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit¿.

 

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
2018-2019
The course consists of two parts: the first sets out the main conceptual evolutions in European Law addressing religious issues and disputes, belief, conscience, both  personal or collective. The second part goes into detail on chosen issues by the students themselves. One or two foreign guests also are invited about some topical issue.
Part 1 - major paradigms of the current European models and evolution : Church-State relations - human rights - minority rights - 'participative democracy' - right to confidentiality of convictions - 'non-discrimination'  -freedom of worship - freedom of expression -conscientious objections - civil disobedience -  'politics and religion' - recognition - identity - Macro European legal systems: European Union and Council of Europe - Comparative law between State models : Belgium, France, Italy
Part 2 - Questions to be chosen by the students - Each topic is adressed through a legal comparative approach in Europe, with the participation of students - Religion and law: religious neutrality of the state - funding of religions in Europe ' Conscientous Objection and reasonable accommodation - religion at work - Autonomy of religion and human rights (privacy, due process) - Religion and School - Religion and health care - Religion and Prison - Harmful cults - religion and family (marriage, divorce, child rearing, circumcision) - Ritual Slaughter - religious Courts and Arbitration - etc.
 
 
Teaching methods
In 2018-2019, the course will be based on an analysis of the film "My Lady" (2018), a film directed by Richard Eyre with Emma Thompson: Should we force a teenager, against his religious convictions, to receive a blood transfusion that could save him ?
 
Evaluation methods
Student assignement : Some short papers will be required on specific focuses along the semester. They will be included in the final evaluation.
Examination: An oral examination of reflection, prepared by a list of questions communicated before the session. The final note takes into account the participation of the student during the course, and the note obtained for the short papers. The evaluation takes into account the discipline of origin of the student.
 
Online resources
see the moodle website of this course
 
Bibliography
Cfr le cours sur moodle
  • ROBBERS, G. (ed.), Etats et Eglises dans l'Union européenne, 2e Edition, Baden Baden, Nomos, 2009 : texte integral en accès libre online : http://www.uni-trier.de/index.php?id=25059&L=1#c49875
  • DOE, N., Law and Religion in Europe. A comparative Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2011
  • MASSIGNON, B., RIVA, V., L'Europe, avec ou sans Dieu ?, Paris, Editions de l'Atelier, 2010, 288 pp.
 
Faculty or entity
CISR


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [120] in Anthropology


Master [120] in Sciences of Religions

Minor in law (open)

Additionnal module in law