Religious pluralism

Religious pluralism is the peaceful coexistence of different religions or denominations in one entity, for example in a state, without one of them having a position of hegemony over the other religions or denominations.

Related Topics:
Pluralism - Religion - Denomination - Hegemony

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Giving one religion or denomination privileges, i.e. special rights that are denied to others can consequently weaken religious pluralism. This situation obtains in certain European countries, where Roman Catholicism or regional forms of Protestantism have special status. For example see the entries on the Lateran Treaty and Church of England

Related Topics:
Privileges - Roman Catholicism - Protestantism - Lateran Treaty - Church of England

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The existence of religious pluralism depends on the existence of freedom of religion. Freedom of religion exists when different religions of a particular region possess the same rights of worship and public expression. Freedom of religion is restrained in some ? but not all - Islamic countries, such as in Saudi Arabia, where the public practice of religions other than Islam is forbidden. Religious freedom did not exist at all in some communist countries such as Albania and the Stalinist Soviet Union, where the state prevented the public expression of religious belief and even persecuted some or all religions. This situation obtains still today in North Korea.

Related Topics:
Freedom of religion - Saudi Arabia - Islam - Albania - Soviet Union - North Korea

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