Overheid en godsdienst in paradoxen

Enkele observaties

Samenvatting

The longitudinal study God in the Netherlands 1966-2024 confirms the trends of secularization and religious individualization with respect to Christianity. These trends coincide with developments in the law with respect to religion. Paradoxically, religious individualism coincides with a stress on equal treatment regardless of religion rather than on freedom of religion itself; religious individualism coincides with increasing significance of institutional freedom of religion; and controversy over moral issues in society coincides with a more or less effective guarantee of freedom of religious conscience in these areas. In the sphere of government, the trends of secularization and religious individualization coincide with rapprochement towards religious organizations. This contribution highlights and explains these developments.