The European Court of Human Rights and the myth of freedom of religion

The European Court of Human Rights (ecthr) plays a vital role in safeguarding religious freedom amid rising extremism and intolerance in Europe. This article argues that the Court acts not only as a legal body but also as a cultural mediator, shaping a pluralistic ethos through its jurisprudence. Us...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Vargiu, Paolo (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2024
In: Il diritto ecclesiastico
Year: 2024, Volume: 135, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 755-771
Further subjects:B Pluralism
B echr
B Neutrality
B Freedom Of Religion
B Mythologies
B ecthr
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Summary:The European Court of Human Rights (ecthr) plays a vital role in safeguarding religious freedom amid rising extremism and intolerance in Europe. This article argues that the Court acts not only as a legal body but also as a cultural mediator, shaping a pluralistic ethos through its jurisprudence. Using Roland Barthes’ concept of myth, the article explores how ecthr case-law reflects Europe’s historical, social, and political narratives, balancing universal rights with national traditions. The Court has moved from prioritizing dominant cultural paradigms to embracing multiculturalism, promoting a pluralistic model that integrates diverse beliefs while rejecting rigid neutrality. Interpreting Article 9 inclusively, the ecthr protects cultural diversity, combats fundamentalism, and promotes a European pluralism rooted in mutual respect, integration, and the shared principles of the European Convention on Human Rights.
1. Introduction. 2. Freedom of Religion as a Myth. 3. The Margin of Appreciation in the application of the Right to Freedom of Religion. 4. Spirituality, Secularism and the quest for a Common Paradigm. 5. Concluding Remarks.
ISSN:2035-3545
Contains:Enthalten in: Il diritto ecclesiastico
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.19272/202430804005