A Sociology of Religious Freedom

Abstract Freedom of and from religion is a key concept to understand the place of religious and spiritual identities, beliefs, and practices in the contemporary world. Sociology can assist in explaining why and how religious freedom holds a variety of meanings in society and may be perceived differently by individuals, social groups, and institutions. This book addresses three major questions of a sociology of religious freedom. First, how to define religious freedom as a multidimensional concept considering its complex and controversial nature. Second, what are the recurrent sociological conditions and relevant social perceptions that will foster an understanding of religious freedom in varying political, legal, and socioreligious contexts. Third, what are the mechanisms of social implementation of religious freedom that contribute to making it a fundamental value of human rights culture in a society. The book suggests that a sociological definition of religious freedom requires taking into account historical, philosophical, legal, religious, and political considerations of a given society. By disclosing the interplay of structural conditions and individual and group perceptions, sociology develops an understanding of the normative and value-laden nature of religious freedom, as well as its societal functions. The book argues that the social mechanisms of incorporation of religious freedom principles into institutional culture are as important as its legal implementation.