State Law And Religion In Pluralistic Societies Austrian And Indonesian Perspectives

In den Beiträgen dieses Bandes werden Erfahrungen und »Good-Practice-Beispiele« aus dem Bereich des religiösen Diversitätsmanagements aus rechtlicher, politischer und kommunaler Perspektive diskutiert. Zu Wort kommen ExpertInnen und JournalistInnen aus Indonesien und Österreich, unter anderem auch hochrangige religiöse Führungspersönlichkeiten der zwei größten muslimischen Vereinigung Indonesiens. Der Sammelband bietet damit einen interessanten Ansatz zur aktuellen Diskussion über die Präsenz und Partizipation von MuslimInnen in Europa und macht die Notwendigkeit des Erfahrungsaustausches – insbesondere um den Herausforderungen der Globalisierung gerecht zu werden – deutlich.Dieser Band vereint Beiträge des Symposiums »State, Law and Religion in Pluralistic Societies – Austrian and Indonesian Perspectives«, das Ende Mai 2009 in Wien vom österreichischen und dem indonesischen Außenministerium in Kooperation mit der Rechtswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Wien organisiert wurde. Es gelang, den Dialog zwischen diesen Ländern zu bestärken: auf der Ebene der öffentlichen Verwaltung ebenso wie der der Universitäten und Forschungseinrichtungen, der Zivilgesellschaft und der religiösen Gemeinschaften.

The contributions of this volume present experiences and best-practice examples in managing religious diversity from a legal, political and local perspective. It marks an interesting point for the on-going discussion on integration and participation of Muslims in Europe and shows the need for exchanging knowledge and experience in this field - especially to fulfil the challenges in a globalized world. This volume combines contributions from the Austrian-Indonesian Dialogue Symposium State, Law and Religion in Pluralistic Societies - Austrian and Indonesian Perspectives, held in May 2009 in Vienna, organized by the Austrian and the Indonesian Ministry for Foreign Affairs in co-operation with the Faculty of Law. This symposium marked an important step in strengthening the dialog between the countries, both on the level of civil service, universities and religious communities.

The field of law and religion studies has undergone a profound transformation over the last thirty years, looking beyond traditional relationships between State and religious communities to include rights of religious liberty and the role of religion in the public space. This handbook features new, specially commissioned papers by a range of eminent scholars that offer a comprehensive overview of the field of law and religion. The book takes on an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from anthropology, sociology, theology and political science in order to explore how laws and court decisions concerning religion contribute to the shape of the public space. Key themes within the book include: Religions symbols in the public space; Religion and security; Freedom of religion and cultural rights; Defamation and hate speech; Gender, religion and law; This advanced level reference work is essential reading for students, researchers and scholars of law and religion, as well as policy makers in the field.

The matter of Christian–Muslim relations cannot be ignored these days. While the term itself may not appear all that often, relations between the two faiths and their reciprocal perceptions are undeniable influences behind many current conflicts, declarations of mutual recognition and peace negotiations, not to mention the brooding hatred of religious extremists. Since 9/11, relations between the two faiths have, in one form or another, hardly been away from the news. This Handbook contains fundamental information about the major aspects of relations between Christians and Muslims. Its various sections follow the history from the early seventh century to the present, the major religious issues that have led to disputes between the two faiths, and the political implications of religious differences at various stages through history, as well as in the present. It includes analysis of scriptural and theological themes and explores the characteristics of relations at important points in history and also in various parts of the world today. Chapters are devoted to the most significant intellectual interpretations and encounters, the main armed clashes, including the Crusades, and the important documents issued by each faith that in recent years have led the way towards new developments in recognition and acceptance. With chapters written by some of the foremost experts in the field, the book traces the largely dark history of relations and explains the underlying reasons why Muslims and Christians have found tolerance and respect for the other difficult. It is an excellent resource for understanding the past and for highlighting lessons for future relations between the world’s two largest religions.

"e;This book fills a gap in authoritative analyses of the causes of inter-religious conflict and the practice of religious toleration. The rise of more overt expressions of Islamic piety and greater bureaucratization of Islam in both Indonesia and Malaysia over several decades have tested the "e;live and let live"e; philosophy that used to characterize religious expression in these nations. The analyses in each chapter break new ground with contextualized studies of particular and recent incidents of conflict or harassment in a variety of areas -- from urban centres to more remote and, even complex, locations. As these studies show, legislation stands or falls on the ability and determination of local authorities to enforce it.This volume is essential reading for understanding the dynamics of state-religious interaction in Muslim majority nations and the crucial role civil society organizations play in negotiating interfaith toleration."e; --Emeritus Professor Virginia Hooker FAHA, Department of Political & Social Change,College of Asia & the Pacific, The Australian National University

Shah uncovers the complex interaction between constitutional law, religion and politics in three key plural societies in Asia.

This volume shows how and why legal empowerment is important for those exercising their religious rights under various jurisdictions, in conditions of legal pluralism. At the same time, it also questions the thesis that as societies become more modern, they also become less religious. The authors look beyond the rule of law orthodoxy in their consideration of the freedom of religion as a human right and place this discussion in a more plurality-sensitive context. The book sheds more light on the informal and/or customary mechanisms that explain the limited impact of law on individuals and groups, especially in non-Western societies. The focus is on discussing how religion and the exercise of religious rights may or may not empower individuals and social groups and improve access to human rights in general. This book is important reading for academics and practitioners of law and religion, religious rights, religious diversity and cultural difference, as well as NGOs, policy makers, lawyers and advocates at multicultural jurisdictions. It offers a contemporary take on comparative legal studies, with a distinct focus on religion as an identity marker.