Legal aspects of a religiously heterogeneous society: A case study of Slovakia
Legal aspects of a religiously heterogeneous society: A case study of Slovakia
Author(s): Michaela MoravčíkováSubject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: Religious heterogeneity; legal frameworks; Slovakia; state–church relations; secularisation; religious freedom; registration policies; Catholic hegemony; minority rights; post-communist transition
Summary/Abstract: This article examines the legal and sociopolitical challenges of governing religious diversity in Slovakia, a post-communist state with a historically Catholic majority. Analysing constitutional frameworks, registration policies, and sociodemographic trends, the study highlights tensions between egalitarian principles and structural biases favouring established churches. Slovakia’s legal system guarantees religious freedom but enforces a restrictive registration threshold of 50,000 adherents, marginalising minority faiths like Islam. Historical legacies, including property restitution and concordats with the Catholic Church, perpetuate inequalities in public institutions. Meanwhile, secularisation trends and regional disparities complicate national identity narratives tied to Christianity. The article critiques politicised rhetoric conflating religion with security threats and proposes reforms to align policies with international human rights standards.
Journal: Kultura Słowian. Rocznik Komisji Kultury Słowian PAU
- Issue Year: 2025
- Issue No: 21
- Page Range: 177-186
- Page Count: 10
- Language: English
