Religion

Lynette J. Chua; David M. Engel; Sida Liu

doi:10.1017/9781108864824.002

1 - Religion

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 March 2023

Lynette J. Chua ,

David M. Engel and

Sida Liu

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Lynette J. Chua: Affiliation:
National University of Singapore
David M. Engel: Affiliation:
State University of New York, Buffalo
Sida Liu: Affiliation:
The University of Hong Kong

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Summary

This chapter contains readings on Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Taoism, and localized so-called “animist” religions based on spirits and nature. Although in premodern legal systems, law and religion were virtually indistinguishable, “modernity” required a separation of the two concepts. The readings address the arrival of European-style legal systems, often (but not always) imposed by colonial authorities, which carried with them some version of the principle of “secularism.” In fact, secularism took on many different forms in Asian societies, each marking out a distinctive role for law, in some instances to police the separation of law and religion and, in other instances, to ensure that a particular religion retained a preferred place in society. The chapter concludes with readings about modern interactions between law and religion in three very different societies—Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Japan.

Keywords

law and religion secularism religious freedom state regulation of religion

Type: Chapter
Information: The Asian Law and Society Reader , pp. 19 - 73

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108864824.002 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2023

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