Secularization, religion and fundamentalist violence

In the International Summer School "Duccio Galimberti" in Cuneo (Piemonte) Italian and French scholars discussed religion and laicality in the post-secular society. Professor Gian Enrico Rusconi of the University of Torino stated that the term "laicality" used in the Italian context is disguised: "The lay culture must be steadfast in maintaining the principle that a believer can declare in public, and therefore introduce into the political process, his own ideas, but on the condition they do not limit the autonomy of other citizens who hold different and at times contrary opinions". Prof. Jean Pierre Machelon of the Descartes University of Paris asked: "Must we hold to the traditional principle that guarantees religious neutrality in the public sphere or would a model of laicality more open to the acceptance of differences and the recognition of the social dimension of religion, be better? Only the future will tell, but from the European point of view the road to follow is clearly indicated by the second option."

"From an objective analysis of the international geo-political scene – affirmed Paolo Naso of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" - there clearly emerges an ever more active role of the faith communities; but not only in the aggressive dimension, exclusive and sometimes violent, of some fundamentalists. Even in the active role of mediation for peace and democratic life, we can mention the role of the East European churches in the delicate phase following the collapse of the communist regimes; or the ecumenical mediation in the Northern Ireland crisis or in South Africa following Apartheid. On the other hand we must get used to a more careful and politically refined analysis of the internal articulation of the various denominational fundamentalisms: not all are intrinsically violent and not all cause political disruption. Like it or not, the "R factor" of religions will be a geo-political element of increasing relevance."

A conference at the European Parliament in Bruxelles was held on the theme of "Laicality and religion in the face of fundamentalist violence" where Prof. Daniele Garrone of the Waldensian Faculty of Theology in Rome, Pastor Salvatore Rapisarda, Vicepresident of the Union of Baptist Churches in Italy, and Dora Bognandi, director of the Department of Freedom of Religion of the Seventh Day Adventist Churches in Italy, took part. "Contrary to what one might think – said Garrone – as a Christian I am concerned about the so-called "revenge of God". Above all, I am concerned when I think about our Western context, about the political protagonism assumed by evangelical groups and by Roman Catholicism. It's exactly in the framework of Western democracy that I see a cultural and religious plan aimed at placing Modernism between parentheses, with its plate of laicality and pluralism, eliminating all that was gained by declaring it an insignificant episode of history. In face of the end of ideologies there's something like a need for new universal metaphysical references. Some denominational realities have candidated themselves for answering this need. In so doing we are taking a step backwards, forgetting that difficult climb to laicality that enabled Europe to free itself from religious conflicts."

"For me, a Baptist Christian, stated Pastor Rapisarda, religion exits from the sphere of intimacy and puts itself on the level of relationships between people and society and moves me to affirm the values of truth, freedom of conscience and democracy. Jesus criticized priestly power, with his actions he did not exclude but rather welcomed; he did not shut himself up in the temple, but lived among the people instead. In the face of a religion that is often hierarchy and power, Jesus expressed a religion open to laicality. Many Christians have followed this path. Think of Martin Luther King who, as a Christian and as a pastor, knew how to give a lay witness to his faith." Dora Bognandi talked on the theme of laicality and of religious minorities in the specific Italian context, reporting the serious delays in up-dating the norms regarding freedom of religion in Italy.

From press service NEV - Notizie evangeliche, 30 September 2008