Beyond the Constitution: Europe between Christian roots and secularism

Abstract

When this issue emerges from the printers, we will have learned the results of the Spanish referendum on the project for the European Constitution. During the process of elaborating its text, controversy arose with respect to the convenience or appropriateness of including an explicit reference to Christianity in the introduction. Beyond this incidental question, now closed, we propose for our readers a reflection in depth on the relationship between Europe’s Christian roots and the apparently unstoppable advance of the process of secularisation. This means reflecting on the role of religion both past and future in the European Union. What should probably be avoided, on the one hand, is the temptation to revert to superseded times and ways in an attempt, which would be both useless and unfortunate, to put denominationalism back into political structures that are today free from ecclesiastical and religious guardianship. But, at the same time, it is necessary to delve deeper into the reciprocal influence between a long European tradition marked by Christianity (in spite of its undeniable errors or historical twists) and certain aspects of modern secularity that can contribute in many positive ways to a Europe more committed to serve Humanity.