Religion as Empowerment by Topidi, Kyriaki; Fielder, Lauren;

Short description:

This volume examines how and why legal empowerment is conducive to people acting as fully-fledged legal subjects with regard to the rights stemming from their freedom of belief. At the same time, the book positions itself in the stream of academic literature that questions the thesis that as societies become more modern, they also become less religious. The authors look beyond the rule of law orthodoxy in its consideration of the freedom of religion as a human right and place this discussion in a more plurality-sensitive context. The book thus sheds more light on the informal and/or customary mechanisms that explain the limited impact of law on individuals and groups.

Long description:

This volume shows how and why legal empowerment is important for those exercising their religious rights under various jurisdictions, in conditions of legal pluralism. At the same time, it also questions the thesis that as societies become more modern, they also become less religious.

The authors look beyond the rule of law orthodoxy in their consideration of the freedom of religion as a human right and place this discussion in a more plurality-sensitive context. The book sheds more light on the informal and/or customary mechanisms that explain the limited impact of law on individuals and groups, especially in non-Western societies. The focus is on discussing how religion and the exercise of religious rights may or may not empower individuals and social groups and improve access to human rights in general.

This book is important reading for academics and practitioners of law and religion, religious rights, religious diversity and cultural difference, as well as NGOs, policy makers, lawyers and advocates at multicultural jurisdictions. It offers a contemporary take on comparative legal studies, with a distinct focus on religion as an identity marker.

'This is a must read book to everyone who is interested in the intersection of law and religion in the contemporary world. In a rich and interdisciplinary volume, the authors reveal how persistent religious claims are in Western legal systems and offer a normative account of how religion and the rule of law can (and should) coexist in the public sphere and even empower one another. Topidi & Fielder bring an impressive collection of articles that shake-up the traditional thinking. Be ready for an intellectual challenge!'

Liav Orgad, Harvard University, USA

'Religion as empowerment is a wide-ranging collective book exploring the universe of "Law and Religion" from different angles and with reference to various cultural and legal experiences.　 The overall scenario depicts a post-secular world, where religion is "lurking in the background" as another form of claimed legal authority. Through the lenses of legal pluralism, the authors explore the normative dialogue between religion and law furnishing invaluable insights for legal scholars as well as for practitioners.'

Domenico Amirante, The Second University of Naples, Italy

'This book is about the manifold legal tools provided by official law and by religious and cultural traditions and about their capacity to provide justice. Interdisciplinary case studies of topical interest from various corners of the world accentuate the impact of theoretical legal approaches on individual people’s lives. A recommended reading and a  stimulus for further research.'

Wolfgang Wieshaider, University of Vienna, Austria

Table of Contents:

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables

List of Contributors

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Introduction– Werner Menski & Kyriaki Topidi

Chapter 2: Islam as legal (dis)-empowerment: The dynamic interplay between Italian legal provisions and shariah-compliant norms – Federica Sona

Chapter 3: South African Women’s Legal Experiences of Muslim Personal Law – Waheeda Amien

Chapter 4: Decoding Diversity: Experiences with Personal Law in the Lower Courts of Maharashtra – Kalindi Kokal

Chapter 5: When courts do not finish contentious causes: Revisiting the value of religious laws in the Rainbow Nation – Dennis Bonginkosi Xulu

Chapter 6: Shari’a Deconstructed: A New Definition of Islamic Constitutionalism and its enforcement through Positive Law –Pietro Longo

Chapter 7: Engaging Religious Laws, Players and Communities: Confronting Religious Dis-Empowerment – Amos Israel - Vleeschhouwer

Chapter 8: Negotiating religious orthodoxy, state neutrality and religious freedom: The case of the Ahmadiyah controversy in post-Suharto Indonesia – Supriyanto Abdi

Chapter 9: Must the infringement of women’s rights within religions be tolerated? A Swiss perspective – Adrian Loretan

Chapter 10: Polygyny in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Practice that empowers or disempowers women? – Lauren Fielder

Chapter 11: Tolerance of Liberal Values in Romania: Anti-Abortion from Strategies between Religious Belief and Civil Society Mobilisation – Bodgan Mihai Radu and Cosmina Paul

Chapter 12: Public Education and Religious Rights: A Comparative Analysis – Kyriaki Topidi

Chapter 13: Conclusion: The Normative Dialogue between Religion and Law as a Cultural Endeavour: A Plea for Complexity and Context - Kyriaki Topidi