Beyond Secularism (Laïcité)
Québec's Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3259099 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hyuk Cho (0009-0005-1540-562X, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 568 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-28 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16050568 |
| OpenAlex | W4410008446 |
| Language | FR |
| References cited | 15 |
This article explores the role of religion in nation-building by examining its public dimensions within the evolving context of secularism in Québec. By examining the shift from open secularism, recommended by the Bouchard-Taylor Commission report of Building the Future, a Time for Reconciliation (2008), to a more rigid form under Bill 21, the study critiques Bill 21's marginalization of religious minorities and explores the broader tension between state neutrality and religious participation in public life. Drawing on Rajeev Bhargava's concept of "principled distance", the author advocates for a flexible secular framework that balances institutional neutrality with ethical commitments to equity and justice. Through case studies, including the accommodation of Sikh turbans in the RCMP and the United Church of Canada's support for same-sex marriage, the article illustrates how religious engagement fosters bridging social capital and enacts public religion, thereby enriching democratic discourse. This article insists on the limitations of rigid secularism in its dealings with pluralism and proposes that principled distance offers a more inclusive approach, allowing constructive religious contributions to civic life without undermining secular governance. Ultimately, the study promotes a vision of secularism that honors differences and encourages religious participation in nation-building
Political science · Politics · Secularism · Sociology · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious studies
The Challenges of a Secular Quebec
Identity in Democracy
Bowling alone
Introduction
Public Religions in the Modern World
Open secularism and the RCMP turban debate
E Pluribus Unum
Freedom of Religion and the Accommodation of Religious Diversity
Same-sex marriage and the Christian churches in Canada
Secularism and Freedom of Conscience
| Highly cited | No |
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