Religious Inclusivity in Public Space

Religious Inclusivity in Public Space Law&Rights and Committed Advocacy for the Religious Other Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

The Public Space 1. National, cultural symbols presenting the public, such as the national colours, the constitution, common public rituals, song-books 2. Courts Parliament Government Municipality Councils Army Police forces: re-presenting the Public 3. Public Schools, Hospitals, Universities, transport-systems: common institutional functioning for the People in the Public 4. Shopping centres, sport halls, public parks: space used by the public 5. Religious buildings with public access Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Secularity in the Public Space Point of departure in the public space is secularity. These spaces are in general not seen as space for performing of religious rituals or practices, be they individual or collective They are however also not marked by secularism understood as laicism as if these spaces had to be emptied for religion But secularity understood as: except for religious buildings these spaces are in general not under religious authority or in use for religious purposes, the general purpose of them is secular. Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Religious Inclusivity in the Public Space • Religious inclusivity in the common Cultural public. Examples: • The Danish constitution requires that the state is supportive towards the evangelical-lutheran church (of which the Monarch must be a member) whereas other religious communities cannot require support. Example: the calendar • The space for common grief after Utøy in Norway July 2011 Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Dannebrog – a religious symbol? Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

2. Institutions re-presenting the public Religious symbols in clothing when performing a public office? Religious arguments in Parliament? A religious service at the beginning of the parliamentarian work? A right for police officers to pray while at work? Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

3 common institutions functioning for the public Public shools, hospitals, universities etc are not necessarily state representatives. They could rather be seen as collectively organised common institutions functioning for all of us. That has consequences for religious inclusiveness: Individual religious identification as long as individual identification and communication functions. Separate rooms for daily religious practice (not in the midst of everything). Chaplancies Day off at most central holidays Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

4. Common space used by the public A christmas tree and an eid festival on the town hall square, but not in the meeting room for the municipality council (since that is a space for performing public authority) Individual right to clothing within limits of public order No right to use religion as basis for discriminating others in the public Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Religious buildings in the public • So: no obligation to meet in private • Public access • Also a right to public visibility - ? - Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Normative pressure in the public • Arguing for religious inclusiveness in the public space – between secularism and a religious state • Underlining the need of escaping normative religious pressure on individuals, thought to belong to a certain tradition • Thus also underlining that we are talking about individual rights and collective rights based on individuals, not of organisational rights to decide over individual’s lives Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Religious Majority/Minority Presence in the Public Space • National cultural is majority based – but even there is it possible to include also minorities • Institutions representing the state ought to be re-presentative also by being secular without being secularistic • Common institutions and the common public space ought to be open for all groups and citizens Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Advocacy for the Religious Other • Inclusivity vs equality • Majority vs minority • The religious other • Advocacy, not for my own rights, but for your rights - Professor Lisbet Christoffersen, Roskilde University, DK, lic@ruc.dk

Religious Inclusivity in Public Space