Panel: KEYNOTE LECTURE: Religion in a Secularized Society: Legal Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them



1670.1 - KEYNOTE LECTURE: Religion in a Secularized Society: Legal Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Audimax ( 09/07/2025 18:00 - 19:00 )
AUTHORS:
Torfs R. (Emeritus Professor at KU Leuven ~ Leuven ~ Belgium)
Text:
Secularized societies exhibit several key characteristics, including the erosion of religion as the foundation of legal and societal systems, a blurred boundary between law and ethics, the increasing prominence of victimhood, the myth of absolute self-determination, and the paradox of relativism's absoluteness. These shifts can have profound legal consequences, reshaping the role of religion in public life. Freedom of expression may face new limitations to safeguard emotional sensitivities, while the autonomy of internal religious organizations might be deprioritized within an emerging hierarchy of human rights. The tension between privacy and religious freedom could intensify, and the scope of fundamental rights may shrink under the influence of prevailing societal worldviews. This raises important questions: Does this signify progress or regression for religious freedom? What potential remedies might address these challenges?