020030 VO-L Introduction to the Law of Religions and Religious Communities in Europe (2025S)

Aims:
The course is a basic course in character; it aims at preparing the participants in fundamentals and at continuing their preparation for the seminar in law and theology, as prescribed by the curriculum for regular students in theology.

Content:
The course will focus on two priority areas:
(a) Human rights
Freedom of thought, of conscience, of religion, of ideologies, individual and collective: these human rights will be considered within the framework of the history and present meaning of European and universal fundamental rights; entailed questions to be discussed will be: What are human rights – what are they for? Whom do they concern? Who guarantees and enforces these rights? Can they be suspended?
(b) Religions and religious communities in the European societies and states
Topics will be: The entity, role and character of the constructs “state” (theory of state) and “religious community”; different models of the relation between religious communities and the state especially in Europe; the vicissitudinous history of the relation of the Austrian state and religious communities in Austria; recognition procedures; the role of religion in the public space.

Methods:
The course will be interactive, i.e. lectures, group activities, debates of cases and events will feature in the course. The documentation and additional material will constitute the examination material.