Religious Freedom, the State and Security - Period 1

Religious Freedom is an old and still relevant fundamental right. At the same time this fundamental right is challenged today in society and in the political discourse. This module focusses on both secular law and religious law from the perspective of the state and faith communities including the extra dimension of security. It raises questions about the space for religious freedom and for its limitations by law, also when it comes to the tension between the by the state required openness of faith communities and privacy regulations. The same applies for the state. How open is the state when it operates in this field of tension towards faith communities? Fundamentalism, nationalism, populism and terrorism add new challenges and perspectives to this multidisciplinary and multireligious domain, and to the complexe relationship between the state and faith communities.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.