Religious Change in Europe

The relationship between religious and national identities shows varying degrees of proximity in various parts of Europe with its weaker manifestation in Western European countries in comparison with those in Central and Eastern areas. This dynamic has complex explanations in the social scientific study of religion indicating that historical legal principle cuius regio, eius religio along with the implementation of individual rights discourse produced multiple patterns of nation-building and preservation of national culture in contemporary Europe.

Recent theoretical attempts of multicultural/intercultural/religious diversification theories to rethink the ethno-religious components in the process of national identity formation suggest an important perspective on the changing roles of religion in this process. Within this perspective, both dominant and minority religions can be seen as identity markers and sources for national culture and citizenship. Moreover, they become important actors in fostering inclusion, produce of plural identities, and dialogue at the same time as continue to be the origin of social issues to be approached. This section invites speakers to consider the religious change in European societies through the lens of the relationship between religion and national identity taking into account the openness of dominant and minority religions toward diversity and inclusion of others. We welcome scholars to bring examples from various social contexts to illustrate the encounters of religion with culture within the process of forming identities of European citizens.