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Religions,
threat or hope for our societies?

The globalization of people and ideas, the presence of religions originating from other continents and of other cultures, in particular Islam and the increase in conflicts linked more or less directly to religious beliefs lead to the following questions: are the religions elements of divisions, as some say, or do they, as they claim, contribute to the cohesion of society?

This question is relevant in Europe as the moral authority of the states decreases and politics is more and more restricted to administrative issues and forgets its visionary mission. This loss of authority and meaning goes on one hand with various identity tensions. On the other hand it provides an opportunity for debate and active participation of the civil society. Such a new situation, peculiar to the current state of affairs, deserves consideration from all parties of society, public or associative, lay or religious. Beneath the surface of an ever persistent suspicion toward historical churches as well as the more recently established ones, there is a deep longing for meaning and value that goes beyond the usual boundaries between the private and public sectors.

Churches and religions are challenged to respond to this lacuna. Without exceeding their own missions, they could play a role of a long term reference points within democracies at this particular moment for European societies. But under what social conditions? Public authorities should certainly recognize unambiguously the social role of the Christian churches and other religions. But the latter also need to make changes as befits a pluralist society influenced by the importance of a non-authoritarian and open communication.

Jérôme Vignon,
President of the « Semaines Sociales de France »

Last update : 23/07/2008