Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building
This article explores the role of religion in nation-building by examining its public dimensions within the evolving context of secularism in Québec. By examining the shift from open secularism, recommended by the Bouchard–Taylor Commission report of <i>Building the Future, a Time for Reconcil...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/568 |
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| author | Hyuk Cho |
| author_facet | Hyuk Cho |
| author_sort | Hyuk Cho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the role of religion in nation-building by examining its public dimensions within the evolving context of secularism in Québec. By examining the shift from open secularism, recommended by the Bouchard–Taylor Commission report of <i>Building the Future, a Time for Reconciliation</i> (2008), to a more rigid form under Bill 21, the study critiques Bill 21’s marginalization of religious minorities and explores the broader tension between state neutrality and religious participation in public life. Drawing on Rajeev Bhargava’s concept of “principled distance”, the author advocates for a flexible secular framework that balances institutional neutrality with ethical commitments to equity and justice. Through case studies, including the accommodation of Sikh turbans in the RCMP and the United Church of Canada’s support for same-sex marriage, the article illustrates how religious engagement fosters bridging social capital and enacts public religion, thereby enriching democratic discourse. This article insists on the limitations of rigid secularism in its dealings with pluralism and proposes that principled distance offers a more inclusive approach, allowing constructive religious contributions to civic life without undermining secular governance. Ultimately, the study promotes a vision of secularism that honors differences and encourages religious participation in nation-building. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-30ed961ea8eb4fc8bf4c657547912fdc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-30ed961ea8eb4fc8bf4c657547912fdc2025-08-20T03:47:54ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-04-0116556810.3390/rel16050568Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-BuildingHyuk Cho0Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, CanadaThis article explores the role of religion in nation-building by examining its public dimensions within the evolving context of secularism in Québec. By examining the shift from open secularism, recommended by the Bouchard–Taylor Commission report of <i>Building the Future, a Time for Reconciliation</i> (2008), to a more rigid form under Bill 21, the study critiques Bill 21’s marginalization of religious minorities and explores the broader tension between state neutrality and religious participation in public life. Drawing on Rajeev Bhargava’s concept of “principled distance”, the author advocates for a flexible secular framework that balances institutional neutrality with ethical commitments to equity and justice. Through case studies, including the accommodation of Sikh turbans in the RCMP and the United Church of Canada’s support for same-sex marriage, the article illustrates how religious engagement fosters bridging social capital and enacts public religion, thereby enriching democratic discourse. This article insists on the limitations of rigid secularism in its dealings with pluralism and proposes that principled distance offers a more inclusive approach, allowing constructive religious contributions to civic life without undermining secular governance. Ultimately, the study promotes a vision of secularism that honors differences and encourages religious participation in nation-building.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/568secularismQuébec Bill 21religious participationprincipled distancepublic religionmulticulturalism |
| spellingShingle | Hyuk Cho Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building Religions secularism Québec Bill 21 religious participation principled distance public religion multiculturalism |
| title | Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building |
| title_full | Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building |
| title_fullStr | Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building |
| title_short | Beyond Secularism (Laïcité): Québec’s Secularism and Religious Participation in Nation-Building |
| title_sort | beyond secularism laicite quebec s secularism and religious participation in nation building |
| topic | secularism Québec Bill 21 religious participation principled distance public religion multiculturalism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/568 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hyukcho beyondsecularismlaicitequebecssecularismandreligiousparticipationinnationbuilding |