Green values, religions and secularism
The relationship between religion and society has changed in recent decades. Consequently, there have been fierce debates in various countries on issues such as ritual slaughter, the rights of homosexuals, the wearing of headscarves in public institutions or the relationship between Islam and terrorism. The Greens recognise the important role of spirituality for individuals and the important social and political role of religion. They oppose all discrimination, including on the basis of worldview.
In the book Green Values, Religion and Secularism (Green Values, Religion and Secularism), published by the Green European Foundation (GEF), Green politicians from various European countries consider how their own religious or secular values influence their political stance and whether religion is a source of inspiration or an obstacle to Green politics. Male and female politicians and one female researcher comment on the role of religion in public life, on conflicts between fundamental rights such as freedom of religion and gender equality, or on the place of Islam in Europe.
The book is an attempt to show the debate within the European Green parties on the changing role of religion in society and politics.
We have translated the book into Polish (downloadable below as an electronic version). In addition, we have published four selected interviews from the book as printed booklets:
In an interview entitled ‘Seeking an open church’, Agnieszka Koscinska talks about the sources of strength of the Polish Catholic Church, its more open-minded past and how to enter into dialogue with its more progressive part;
Nil Mutluer’s ‘Secularism in Turkey. Controlling faith instead of freedom’ is a story about the growing position of political Islam in formerly secular Turkey, headscarves, religious minorities and non-heterosexuals, green politics in the relationship between religion and society and the place for Islam in Europe;
Bettina Jarasch ‘How the Greens debate religion’ is an interview about how the German Greens debate religion within their party;
Yannis Paraskevopoulos in his interview ‘Religions change with society’ talks about the advantages and difficulties for a Green politician in Greece, where the Orthodox Church has traditionally held a very important function in public life.
Paper brochures can be sent for a postal fee upon request sent to the foundation’s address: fundacja@strefazieleni.org.
We invite you to read.
