This essay intends to answer the question whether Europe is secular or religious.
In both the European treaties and the accession criteria to the European Union there are no references to a historical and cultural community to describe the European polity. Article 6 of the Treaty on European states: ‘The Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States’. No references to the Christian roots of Europe in the draft treaty establishing a constitution for Europe (European Constitution, only a general reference to its religious heritage).
The background provided in the introduction states the importance to deal with the subject and finally raises the question. Europe claims to be secular, but its moral values are too closely bind towards its Judeo-Christian heritage to act without showing religious bias. Therefore, my thesis statement will be: Even though the states of the EU have secular constitutions, the shared Christian roots of the member states of the European Union and the notion of believing without belonging which is shared by the majority of the European population leads to religiously motivated policy of the member states.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Is Europe Secular or Religious?
- The Importance of Defining Europe's Identity
- Secularism and the European Union
- The Role of Christianity in European Identity
- Secularization and the Privatization of Religion
- The Limits of Secularism and the Threat of Islam
- The European Union and the Turkish Accession Debate
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to explore the complex question of whether Europe is secular or religious. It examines the historical and contemporary relationship between secularism and religious belief in Europe, with a particular focus on the European Union.
- The concept of secularism and its application in Europe
- The influence of Christianity on European identity
- The process of secularization and its impact on religion
- The debate surrounding the Turkish accession to the EU
- The implications of secularism and religious pluralism for European society
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The essay begins by defining the terms "secular" and "religious" and outlining the importance of understanding Europe's identity in the context of secularism.
- It examines the characteristics of secularism and explores its connection to the European Union, highlighting the significance of constitutional patriotism as a model of secular solidarity.
- The essay then delves into the role of Christianity in shaping European identity, exploring the concept of "believing without belonging" and its implications for understanding religious practice in Europe.
- The chapter on secularization examines the process of "church-state separation" and the privatization of religion, drawing on theories from Max Weber and other prominent thinkers.
- The essay then discusses the limits of secularism and explores the potential conflict between secularism and Islam, considering perspectives from various scholars and political figures.
- Finally, the essay analyzes the debate surrounding the Turkish accession to the EU, highlighting the arguments for and against Turkey's membership, particularly in the context of its religious identity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay focuses on key concepts such as secularism, religion, Christianity, Islam, European Union, Turkish accession, constitutional patriotism, believing without belonging, secularization, privatization of religion, and the limits of secularism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Europe fundamentally secular or religious?
The essay argues that while EU states have secular constitutions, their shared Christian roots and moral values deeply influence policy-making, suggesting a religious bias despite claims of secularism.
What does "believing without belonging" mean in the European context?
It describes a phenomenon where a majority of the population maintains Christian beliefs or cultural identity without active participation in church institutions or formal membership.
How does the European Union define its principles in treaties?
Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union founds the Union on principles of liberty, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, notably avoiding direct references to specific Christian roots.
What role does the Turkish accession debate play in this discussion?
The debate over Turkey's EU membership highlights the limits of secularism, as critics often point to Turkey's Islamic identity as a cultural barrier to joining a "Christian" Europe.
What is "constitutional patriotism"?
It is a model of secular solidarity where citizens' loyalty is directed toward the democratic principles and values of the constitution rather than a shared religious or ethnic heritage.
How did Max Weber influence the understanding of secularization?
Weber's theories on the "disenchantment of the world" and church-state separation are central to the discussion of how religion has been privatized in modern European societies.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Otto Möller (Autor:in), 2014, Is Europe secular or religious? The case of Turkey, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/459782
