Many indigenous communities perceive an intimate connection between land and religion, and land has, and continues to remain, at the heart of indigenous-state relations. This dissertation examines how philosophies of land and religion in correlation with histories of dispossession and differentiation contribute to socio-political structures that threaten the religious freedom of Aboriginal peoples and the very existence of indigenous religious traditions, cultures, and sacred sites in Canada today. Through a political-philosophical approach to ethical concerns of justice as fairness, national minorities’ rights, and religious freedom, I examine court decisions, legislation, and official protocols that shape contemporary indigenous-state relations. I identify philosophical and structural issues preventing Canada from protecting the fundamental rights guaranteed to indigenous peoples and all Canadians. More specifically, I examine the historical manifestations of concepts of land and religion in philosophies of colonization, emphasizing their effects in contemporary indigenous-state relations. I analyze the impacts of secularization, socio-economic expansion, and the dispossession of Aboriginal traditional lands on the protection of indigenous cultural rights and off-reserve sacred sites. Based on this analysis, I discuss communicative democratic theory and the potential benefits and limitations of the “Duty to Consult and Accommodate”—the most recent framework for indigenous-state relations—for the protection of indigenous religious traditions and the importance of the inclusion of indigenous peoples in administrative and decision-making processes. Finally, I explore indigenous representation, religious revitalization and the politics of authenticity, authority, diversity and cultural change.

La tesi esamina la partecipazione della Santa Sede alla Conferenza per la Sicurezza e la Cooperazione in Europa (ora Organizzazione per la Sicurezza e la Cooperazione in Europa), concentrandosi sui documenti riguardanti la libertà religiosa. Premesse le circostanze geo-politiche che hanno portato alla convocazione della Conferenza e la posizione vaticana antecedente ad essa, vengono analizzati i lavori della Conferenza di Helsinki nonché delle Riunioni sui Seguiti di Belgrado, Madrid e Vienna. Inoltre, viene illustrata la trasformazione ed istituzionalizzazione della Conferenza e, quindi, l'attività dell'OSCE nell'ambito della dimensione umana dell'OSCE, esaminando le procedure e i meccanismi istituiti per la verifica degli impegni. Infine, viene preso in considerazione il programma promosso dall'OSCE sulla tolleranza e la non discriminazione verso gli appartenenti alle confessioni religiose. / The thesis investigates the Holy See's participation in the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (now Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe), focusing on documents about religious freedom. After a brief description of the geo-politic scenery that brought to the Conference and the Holy See's position, the thesis analyzes the Helsinki Conference's works and thereafter the Follow-up Meetings of Belgrade, Madrid and Vienna. The thesis examines also the Conference's transformation and institutionalization and, then, the OSCE activity in the human dimension, focusing on procedures and mechanisms provided for the commitments' implementation. Finally, the thesis investigates the OSCE program for tolerance and non discrimination to religions' members.

Abstract Many opinions are divided on what religious freedom should protect and the area is unexploredin preschool. Is it the parents, the child or preschool teacher right? The aim of the studywas to investigate Maria klasson Sundin´s concept and theoretical models of religious freedomfor children through three Swedish preschool settings and also how three teachers interpretsand expresses children's freedom of religion. Through a qualitative interview study theaim was to investigate how the concepts of religion, autonomy and freedom is interpreted andexpressed by the teachers so a picture through this three concepts can categorise the teachersin a model; freedom of thought, tradition and life interpretation model so a broader picturecan be made to understand how the children's freedom of religion is expressed in the preschoolsetting and how the teachers work. The Result showed through the analysis that themodels fail to categorise the teachers in any theoretical model but on the other hand the understandingof preschool teacher’s expression and interpretation of the concept of religion,autonomy and freedom showed both diversity and lack of knowledge on the subject mattersreligious freedom which fall within the child rights issues. Furthermore the analysis showsthat children in preschool lack religious freedom, it can be interpreted rather in terms of afreedom of parents and preschool teachers. Further research is needed in the area of children'srights and religious freedom for preschool children and their teachers in (e.g.) investigate differenceof public municipal and private preschools, religious, and non-religious.

Though there is significant academic interest in the law of religious freedom in Canada, there has been little research into the experiences of participants in religious freedom litigation. Based on a qualitative analysis of participant interviews and legal documents in three decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, this dissertation explores the social processes at play in that litigation. At issue in the three cases were, respectively, (1) the right of Jewish condominium co-owners to install ritual huts (succoth) on their balconies; (2) the right of a Sikh student to wear a ceremonial dagger (kirpan) in a public high school; and (3) the right of a Hutterite group to be exempted from the photo requirement on driver’s licences for religious reasons. This dissertation adds to the existing academic commentary by looking beyond the judicial decisions and incorporating firsthand accounts of lawyers, litigants, and expert witnesses in these cases. The substantive analysis is divided in three sections. First, the dissertation examines themes of overlapping legal systems in participant narratives. Litigants understood themselves to be subjects of both state and religious laws, and the particular interactions between these legal systems help refine theories of legal pluralism. Second, the work analyzes religious freedom litigation as cross-cultural communication. Specifically, the dissertation employs the normative criteria of respect and self-awareness found in the literature on cross-cultural communication to approach participant narratives and judicial decisions, finding both successes and failures in this regard. Third, the dissertation engages issues of belonging to the Canadian civic community inherent in participant narratives. All litigants told the stories of their litigation as part of their larger immigration and integration narratives, and successful litigants were quick to give positive accounts in this regard. The unsuccessful litigants told more complex stories of integration, complicating the analysis of the impact of a judicial decision on their narratives of civic belonging. Nevertheless, the dissertation argues that the notion of civic belonging ought to be explicitly taken into account by Canadian judgments when dealing with issues of religious freedom.

Though there is significant academic interest in the law of religious freedom in Canada, there has been little research into the experiences of participants in religious freedom litigation. Based on a qualitative analysis of participant interviews and legal documents in three decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, this dissertation explores the social processes at play in that litigation. At issue in the three cases were, respectively, (1) the right of Jewish condominium co-owners to install ritual huts (succoth) on their balconies; (2) the right of a Sikh student to wear a ceremonial dagger (kirpan) in a public high school; and (3) the right of a Hutterite group to be exempted from the photo requirement on driver’s licences for religious reasons. This dissertation adds to the existing academic commentary by looking beyond the judicial decisions and incorporating firsthand accounts of lawyers, litigants, and expert witnesses in these cases. The substantive analysis is divided in three sections. First, the dissertation examines themes of overlapping legal systems in participant narratives. Litigants understood themselves to be subjects of both state and religious laws, and the particular interactions between these legal systems help refine theories of legal pluralism. Second, the work analyzes religious freedom litigation as cross-cultural communication. Specifically, the dissertation employs the normative criteria of respect and self-awareness found in the literature on cross-cultural communication to approach participant narratives and judicial decisions, finding both successes and failures in this regard. Third, the dissertation engages issues of belonging to the Canadian civic community inherent in participant narratives. All litigants told the stories of their litigation as part of their larger immigration and integration narratives, and successful litigants were quick to give positive accounts in this regard. The unsuccessful litigants told more complex stories of integration, complicating the analysis of the impact of a judicial decision on their narratives of civic belonging. Nevertheless, the dissertation argues that the notion of civic belonging ought to be explicitly taken into account by Canadian judgments when dealing with issues of religious freedom.

Many indigenous communities perceive an intimate connection between land and religion, and land has, and continues to remain, at the heart of indigenous-state relations. This dissertation examines how philosophies of land and religion in correlation with histories of dispossession and differentiation contribute to socio-political structures that threaten the religious freedom of Aboriginal peoples and the very existence of indigenous religious traditions, cultures, and sacred sites in Canada today. Through a political-philosophical approach to ethical concerns of justice as fairness, national minorities’ rights, and religious freedom, I examine court decisions, legislation, and official protocols that shape contemporary indigenous-state relations. I identify philosophical and structural issues preventing Canada from protecting the fundamental rights guaranteed to indigenous peoples and all Canadians. More specifically, I examine the historical manifestations of concepts of land and religion in philosophies of colonization, emphasizing their effects in contemporary indigenous-state relations. I analyze the impacts of secularization, socio-economic expansion, and the dispossession of Aboriginal traditional lands on the protection of indigenous cultural rights and off-reserve sacred sites. Based on this analysis, I discuss communicative democratic theory and the potential benefits and limitations of the “Duty to Consult and Accommodate”—the most recent framework for indigenous-state relations—for the protection of indigenous religious traditions and the importance of the inclusion of indigenous peoples in administrative and decision-making processes. Finally, I explore indigenous representation, religious revitalization and the politics of authenticity, authority, diversity and cultural change.

Os marcos da modernidade a secularização e a laicidade tem sido hoje postos em xeque por crescentes movimentos religiosos. As fronteiras entre Estado e religião estão sendo desafiadas e redefinidas. Dentro dessa renovação, coloca-se a questão da possibilidade ou não do uso de razões religiosas na esfera pública. O debate ganha importância no Brasil na medida em que o Pentecostalismo, ramo de Protestantismo em rápida expansão, fez afluir aos quadros do Congresso Nacional um número sem precedentes de candidatos eleitos graças à filiação religiosa. A análise teórica e empírica do uso de razões religiosas e da política pentecostal pretende jogar luz à questão, tendo sempre como paradigma, limite e orientação o fundamento último da liberdade religiosa: a dignidade da pessoa humana. / The hallmarks of modernity secularism and laicitë have now been called into question by growing religious movements. The boundaries between state and religion are being challenged and redefined. Within this renewal, the question about using or not religious reasons in the public sphere arises. The debate has great importance in Brazil insofar as Pentecostalism, a rapidly expanding branch of Protestantism, has flocking to the tables of the National Congress an unprecedented number of candidates elected because of their religious affiliation. The theoretical and empirical analyzes of the use of religious reasons and of the Pentecostal politics intends to shed light to the issue, using always as a paradigm, limits and guidance, the ultimate foundation of religious freedom: the dignity of the human person.

Os marcos da modernidade a secularização e a laicidade tem sido hoje postos em xeque por crescentes movimentos religiosos. As fronteiras entre Estado e religião estão sendo desafiadas e redefinidas. Dentro dessa renovação, coloca-se a questão da possibilidade ou não do uso de razões religiosas na esfera pública. O debate ganha importância no Brasil na medida em que o Pentecostalismo, ramo de Protestantismo em rápida expansão, fez afluir aos quadros do Congresso Nacional um número sem precedentes de candidatos eleitos graças à filiação religiosa. A análise teórica e empírica do uso de razões religiosas e da política pentecostal pretende jogar luz à questão, tendo sempre como paradigma, limite e orientação o fundamento último da liberdade religiosa: a dignidade da pessoa humana. / The hallmarks of modernity secularism and laicitë have now been called into question by growing religious movements. The boundaries between state and religion are being challenged and redefined. Within this renewal, the question about using or not religious reasons in the public sphere arises. The debate has great importance in Brazil insofar as Pentecostalism, a rapidly expanding branch of Protestantism, has flocking to the tables of the National Congress an unprecedented number of candidates elected because of their religious affiliation. The theoretical and empirical analyzes of the use of religious reasons and of the Pentecostal politics intends to shed light to the issue, using always as a paradigm, limits and guidance, the ultimate foundation of religious freedom: the dignity of the human person.

A presente dissertação analisa de forma sucinta a questão da liberdade religiosa da infância e juventude, principalmente em relação ao conflito existente entre estudantes adventistas do sétimo dia e judeus, referente à guarda do sábado bíblico" ou o sábado natural, termo este adotado por alguns doutrinadores. Realizamos uma abordagem filosófica e jurídica da Liberdade Religiosa, apresentando noções e conceitos preliminares a respeito de religião e de liberdade e seus fundamentos bíblicos e jurídicos, segundo alguns filósofos e doutrinadores que tratam do tema. Com base em notícias, jurisprudências, leis, resoluções e em casos reais do conflito existente com relação à guarda do sábado bíblico, realizamos entrevistas de estudantes e constatamos a discriminação, o preconceito e a intolerância religiosa existente no mercado de trabalho e no meio educacional com relação à guarda de princípios religiosos. Como alternativa para a superação destes conflitos apresentamos uma breve proposta de educar para a tolerância e promover o diálogo inter-religioso, pois, atualmente, estamos vivendo no auge dos direitos humanos e a liberdade religiosa consiste num direito fundamental e princípio basilar da cidadania e dignidade da pessoa humana nas constituições democráticas e nos tratados internacionais dos direitos humanos. / This thesis analyzes, in a succinct way, the issue of the religious freedom of infancy and youth, mainly in relation to the existing conflict among Seventh Day Adventist and Jewish students, with regard to the biblical Sabbath or the natural Sabbath this term being adopted by some teachers. We carried out a philosophical and juridical approach of Religious Freedom, presenting preliminary notions and concepts about religion, freedom and their biblical and juridical foundations, according to some philosophers and teachers who work with the theme. Based on news items, jurisprudence, laws, resolutions and on real cases of existing conflict in regard to the biblical Sabbath, we carried out interviews with students and observed the existing discrimination, prejudice and religious intolerance in the workplace and in the educational environment in relation to keeping religious principles. As an alternative aimed at overcoming these conflicts we present a brief proposal to educate for tolerance and promote inter-religious dialog, since, currently, we are living in a high point of human rights, and religious freedom is a fundamental right and basic principle of a human beings citizenship and dignity in the democratic constitutions and the international treaties on human rights.

O trabalho missionário do médico escocês Robert Reid Kalley (1809-1888) em terras brasileiras, acabou suscitando um intenso debate sobre o direito fundamental de liberdade de culto na legislação aqui vigente. O império conhecia, até então, uma legislação restritiva quanto a matéria, fruto de acordos políticos entre Portugal e Inglaterra quando da vinda da família real ao Brasil (1808), permitindo que confissões protestantes aqui atuassem mas sem que houvesse evangelização a brasileiros. Em 1855, Robert Reid Kalley inicia um trabalho de evangelização em língua portuguesa, criando e ampliando o debate sobre essas restrições. Tal debate tomou as ruas, os jornais e o parlamento, gerando, ao final, uma adequação jurídica para o funcionamento das confissões protestantes no Brasil, com o reconhecimento da liberdade de culto. / The missionary work of Scottish doctor Robert Reid Kalley (1809-1888) in Brazilian lands led to an intense debate on the fundamental right to freedom of worship in the legislation in force. The empire had hitherto known a restrictive legislation on the matter, the result of political agreements between Portugal and England upon the coming of the royal family to Brazil (1808), allowing Protestant confessions here to act but without evangelization to Brazilians. In 1855, Robert Reid Kalley began a work of evangelization in Portuguese, creating and expanding the debate on these restrictions. This debate took the streets, the newspapers and the parliament, generating, in the end, a legal adequacy for the operation of the Protestant confessions in Brazil, with the recognition of freedom of worship.