Laïcité and Religious Freedom: Sword or Shield?
Notes & Changes
We hope to run this event in person and online. However, seating in the IECL Seminar Room is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please complete the registration form below to indicate how you would like to attend.
Historically French secularism (laïcité) was something that was shaped and took place “in school”, i.e. affected first and foremost children’s education. The separation between the Catholic Church and educational establishments is reflected in the concept of laïcité as a “sword”. In 1905, a statute of enormous significance separated the Church from the State, giving rise to laïcité as a political concept. The Pope’s opposition to this legal arrangement subsequently put pressure on France to liberalise it. The law has since been amended to better respect freedom of conscience. Laïcité thus became a principle of liberty and obtained constitutional value (laïcité as a “shield”). The presentation will trace these developments and share reflections on their modern relevance.
This event is open only to members of Oxford University. To register for it please complete the form below using your SSO credentials. Registration will close at 10am on the morning of the seminar after which a Teams link will be sent to those who have registered to attend online.