Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This book is an apologetic for maintaining the presumption of public benefit for the charitable category 'advancement of religion' in democratic countries within the English common law tradition. In response to growing academic and political pressure to reform charity law, the scholars in this volume analyse the implications of legislative and legal developments in Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It is concerned with the place of religion - and religious institutions - in contemporary society. It represents a series of concerns about the proper role of the state in relation to the differing beliefs of citizens - some of which will quite rightly manifest in actions to benefit the wider society. This debate, then, naturally engages with broader issues related to secularism, civic engagement and liberal democratic freedoms.

Historically, we have presumed that religion is beneficial. Any suggestion that would either remove the advancement of religion, or advocate the removal of other benefits granted to religious institutions (such as tax exempt status), is predicated on the contrary assumption that religion provides no benefit, or if it does, it only benefits congregants on a Sunday morning (or other holy day). Further, our cultural moment, with its attention to diversity and equality, has put the charitable status of religious communities in jeopardy unless they conform to the normative moral commitments of secular elites in academia, media and the legal profession. This exposes a deeply flawed notion of religion, as discussed in this book. Religion is both communal and holistic in scope; as the research canvassed in this volume reveals, spiritual faith and good works are so closely intertwined in the theology, practice and lives of most religious communities that recognizing religion as charitable speaks to the reality of religion's ongoing, positive influence in society.

Charity laws and legislation. --- Charities --- Law, Charity --- Poor laws --- Law and legislation --- Church and state. --- Christianity and state --- Separation of church and state --- State and church --- State, The

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

For the 2019 IVR World Congress of Philosophy of Law meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, Drs Barry W. Bussey and Angus J. L. Menuge organized a special workshop on the inherence of human dignity, featuring participation from philosophers, legal scholars, and legal practitioners from around the world. Many of the chapters in these volumes are the result of that invigorating two-day workshop. In addition, several new papers were solicited to round out each volume so that it offers broad coverage of the issues it addresses.

The second volume, Law and Religious Liberty, explores the value of dignity as a foundation for law. It addresses the following questions. What context is necessary to create an understanding of the need to protect human dignity? Is dignity a useful legal concept or not? If it is, what difference does it make if dignity is recognized in a state's constitution? Can we discover dignity by its de facto role in legal decisions? Should dignity be extended to groups? What are the practical, legal implications of various understandings of human dignity for international law, religious freedom cases and the permissibility of legal determination of religious doctrine?

Respect for persons --- Dignity. --- Dignity --- Law and legislation. --- Religious aspects. --- Human dignity --- Values --- Human rights --- Law and legislation

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)