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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Framework of Secularism and Religion
2.1 Definitions and Concepts
2.2 Secularization and Modernity in Europe
3. Religion and Identity in the European Union
3.1 Constitutional Patriotism and Christian Heritage
3.2 The Case of Poland: Religious Exceptionalism
4. The Debate on Turkish Accession
4.1 Otherness and Civilizational Arguments
4.2 Multiculturalism and the Political Role of Islam
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the tension between Europe's self-proclaimed secular identity and its deeply rooted Christian heritage, particularly in the context of political integration and the potential accession of Turkey to the European Union.
- Analysis of secularization theories versus religious reality in contemporary Europe.
- Examination of the "Believing without belonging" phenomenon.
- Assessment of the role of Christian heritage in EU accession criteria.
- Discussion on multiculturalism, the political role of Islam, and the limits of European secularism.
Excerpt from the Book
Is Europe secular or religious?
The following essay intends to answer the question whether Europe is secular or religious? In order to answer this question in a meaningful manner, a definition of the two technical terms is needed. Secular signifies: “Belonging to the world and its affairs as distinguished from the church and religion; civil, lay, temporal. Chiefly used as a negative term, with the meaning non-ecclesiastical, non-religious, or non-sacred.“ (Oxford English Dictionary 2008)
Where as religion according to the Oxford English Dictionary means: Belief in or acknowledgement of some superhuman power or powers (esp. a god or gods) which is typically manifested in obedience, reverence, and worship; such a belief as part of a system defining a code of living, esp. as a means of achieving spiritual or material improvement. (Oxford English Dictionary 2008)
It is of crucial importance for contemporary European Union and its future to realise and define for itself whether it is religious or secular, since it prides itself for being secular and therefore modern. The characteristics of secularism, which I will explain in further depth later on are highly held among the member states. “ As a general rule the theory postulates that the more modern a society the less religious will be its population.” (Casanova: p. 87)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the core research question regarding Europe's secular or religious nature and defines key technical terms.
2. Theoretical Framework of Secularism and Religion: Discusses the scholarly debate on secularization, specifically the link between modernization and the decline of religion.
3. Religion and Identity in the European Union: Explores how European identity is constructed through "constitutional patriotism" while grappling with lingering Christian roots.
4. The Debate on Turkish Accession: Analyzes how the potential accession of Turkey highlights the conflict between the EU's secular claims and its perception of Islam as "other."
5. Conclusion: Summarizes that a successful future for the EU requires moving beyond narrow cultural or geographical definitions toward a more inclusive understanding of diverse identities.
Keywords
Secularism, Religion, European Union, Turkish Accession, Modernity, Christian Heritage, Multiculturalism, Islam, Constitutional Patriotism, Secularization, Identity, Laicism, Political Discourse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay examines whether Europe is truly secular or whether its political and social structures remain fundamentally influenced by Christian heritage.
What are the central themes discussed?
The paper focuses on secularization theories, European integration, the role of religion in defining collective identity, and the political skepticism surrounding the accession of Muslim-majority countries like Turkey.
What is the central research question?
The main question is how the European Union reconciles its self-definition as a secular, modern political entity with the influence of its shared Christian roots and the ongoing political debates about Islam.
Which theoretical approaches are utilized?
The author draws on sociological and political theory, referencing scholars like Jose Casanova, Grace Davie, Talal Asad, and Elizabeth Shakman Hurd to analyze the "secularization paradigm."
What does the main body address?
The main body covers the theoretical definitions of secularism, the "believing without belonging" phenomenon, the specific case of Poland's religious identity, and the discourse regarding Turkey's integration.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Secularism, Turkish Accession, Christian Heritage, Modernity, and Identity.
How is the "Believing without belonging" concept applied here?
The author uses this concept to explain that while European citizens may be less religiously observant, they still hold onto a "soft" Christian identity that influences political policy.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding Turkey?
The author concludes that the EU's resistance to Turkish accession is not purely based on technical criteria but is rooted in an anxiety over whether a non-Christian nation fits into the European "social imaginary."
- Quote paper
- Otto Möller (Author), 2014, Is Europe secular or religious? The case of Turkey, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/459782
