RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS AND SOCIAL ORDER

Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: CRISTIANA MARIA PETTINATO

Course Structure

The course will be divided into frontal teaching lessons held by the teacher. On some specific topics, Italian and foreign scholars may be invited to hold seminars capable of offering targeted insights.

If the teaching is given in mixed or distance learning mode, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, in order to respect the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus.

Required Prerequisites

No prerequisite required.

Attendance of Lessons

Not mandatory but strongly recommended.

Detailed Course Content

Focusing on on the regulation of the religious phenomenon in the legal systems of the countries belonging to the European Union and the Council of Europe (with a reference to significative non-European experiences), the course outlines the different systems of relations between States and confessional communities, in the light of the principle of secularism as a response to the social and legal issues emerging from religious pluralism and multiculturalism.

Textbook Information

- A. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda (eds.), Religioni e società. Modelli di relazioni tra Stati e confessioni religiose, Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino, 2024 (except chapters about Jordan and Bahrein).


AuthorTitlePublisherYearISBN

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Law, religion and comparative studiesA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, Introduction
2Italian ecclesiastical lawA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, I
3Vatican legal systemA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, cap. II
4Law and religion in FranceA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, III
5Law and religion in UKA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, IV
6Law and religion in SpainA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, V
7Law and religion in GreeceA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, VI
8Law and religion in TurkeyA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, VII
9Law and religion in AlbaniaA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, VIII
10Law and religion in IsraelA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, IX
11Law and religion in RussiaA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, X
12Religious freedom in muslim Charters of rightsA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, XIII
13Law and religion in CanadaA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, XIV
14Law and religion in the USAA. G. Chizzoniti, A. Gianfreda, Religioni e società, XV

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The exam will consist of an oral test aimed at verifying the knowledge of the subject and the achievement of the educational objectives by the student.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

1) general notion of comparative ecclesiastical law

2) overview of the relevance of the religious phenomenon in the European panorama (migrations-integrations-religious pluralism-multiculturalism)

3) declinations of secularism

4) different systems of relationship between the State and religious denominations

5) religious freedom in the legislative and jurisprudential definition

6) concept of religious confession and individual and collective protection

7) religious symbols and relevance in the public space

8) State funding intervention for religious denominations

9) penal protection of religious sentiment

10) different cultural models of religious education

11) incidence of religious options in the personal status of the European citizen (marriage-filiation)

12) discrimination

13) religious identity and cultural identity (minorities-new religious movements)

14) protection of health and religious freedom