The concept of religion in the Law: European Approaches

Abstract

Courts and Legislative bodies in Europe have to deal very frequently with the delicate task of defining the notion of religion for legal purposes, since this term is involved in all kind of legal sectors related to freedom of religion and to legal relationships between the State and religious groups. We often hear about legal disputes concerning new religious movements which demand to be recognized as a religion by the law. In this presentation the author analyzes different systems for defining religion in the Law.