Courses and seminars
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Religious Pluralism: Theories and Practices Debated
From February 11, 2014 until February 21, 2014
International Congress held on January 30-31 at Casa ÁrabeLink to the videos of all the presentations
The Observatory of Religious Pluralism in Spain, with the cooperation of Casa Árabe, the KAICIID Center for Dialogue, the Canada Foundation, the Embassy of Canada in Spain and the Embassy of the United States, held the First International Congress on the Management of Religious Pluralism, at the Madrid headquarters of Casa Árabe, on the dates of January 30-31, 2014.
Participating in the opening ceremony were the Minister of Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón; the Secretary General of the KAICIID, Faisal Abdulrahman Bin Muaamar; the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo de Benito Secades; the Secretary General of the FEMP, Ángel Fernández Díaz; the President of the Observatory of Religious Pluralism in Spain, Ángel Llorente Fernández de la Reguera, and the General Director of Casa Árabe, Eduardo López Busquets.
During these seminars, a set of guidelines and experiences in the management of religious pluralism in different countries and cities were analyzed, with the objective of contributing to the enrichment of the development and practice of public policies in this field.
Through a broad selection of representatives and specialists, the congress took a closer look at the various levels of this topic, from the most general legislation to the most specific daily practices. Likewise, at both the international and national levels, it dealt with the development of tools and scientific methods within our reach for studying and managing diversity and religious pluralism.
In terms of the international experiences, the theoretical foundations were described through case studies of Toronto, London, Singapore and Quebec, as well as municipal experiences with how to manage pluralism in different contexts.
The existing regulatory framework was also analyzed, providing evidence as to how work and debate continue, through different contexts and constant change, on how to adapt legislation to this changing diversity and how to apply that legislation, as well as discussing how to keep moving forward through debates and discussions like these.
Managing pluralism at the municipal level in Spain was also a topic of debate, with practical analysis of cases in Barcelona, Ceuta, Malaga and Murcia, as well as others. The congress brought up the challenges which have gradually taken shape within various contexts in Spanish municipalities, and which have been surmounted thanks to good practices, the interest shown by those in charge of the municipalities concerned, and the work by all of the sectors involved at every level (both the municipal administrations and the various religions and individuals).
At the congress, the conclusion was reached that a commitment to the development of the plural society in which we now live undoubtedly means relying on everyone who is involved: from representatives of the majority religion to the minority religions which are “notably well-established” according to State acknowledgment, as well as a wide range of organizations and entities legally registered at the Ministry of Justice. Each and every one of the parties involved must therefore help make it possible to further citizenship and respect for fundamental rights, avoiding exclusion, discrimination and, above all, ignorance about others.
Participating in the opening ceremony were the Minister of Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón; the Secretary General of the KAICIID, Faisal Abdulrahman Bin Muaamar; the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo de Benito Secades; the Secretary General of the FEMP, Ángel Fernández Díaz; the President of the Observatory of Religious Pluralism in Spain, Ángel Llorente Fernández de la Reguera, and the General Director of Casa Árabe, Eduardo López Busquets.
Opening session. Photograph: Laura Martínez Lombardía /Casa Árabe.
Public Policy Development
During these seminars, a set of guidelines and experiences in the management of religious pluralism in different countries and cities were analyzed, with the objective of contributing to the enrichment of the development and practice of public policies in this field.
Through a broad selection of representatives and specialists, the congress took a closer look at the various levels of this topic, from the most general legislation to the most specific daily practices. Likewise, at both the international and national levels, it dealt with the development of tools and scientific methods within our reach for studying and managing diversity and religious pluralism.
International and Municipal Dimension
In terms of the international experiences, the theoretical foundations were described through case studies of Toronto, London, Singapore and Quebec, as well as municipal experiences with how to manage pluralism in different contexts.
The existing regulatory framework was also analyzed, providing evidence as to how work and debate continue, through different contexts and constant change, on how to adapt legislation to this changing diversity and how to apply that legislation, as well as discussing how to keep moving forward through debates and discussions like these.
Managing pluralism at the municipal level in Spain was also a topic of debate, with practical analysis of cases in Barcelona, Ceuta, Malaga and Murcia, as well as others. The congress brought up the challenges which have gradually taken shape within various contexts in Spanish municipalities, and which have been surmounted thanks to good practices, the interest shown by those in charge of the municipalities concerned, and the work by all of the sectors involved at every level (both the municipal administrations and the various religions and individuals).
An Essential Commitment
At the congress, the conclusion was reached that a commitment to the development of the plural society in which we now live undoubtedly means relying on everyone who is involved: from representatives of the majority religion to the minority religions which are “notably well-established” according to State acknowledgment, as well as a wide range of organizations and entities legally registered at the Ministry of Justice. Each and every one of the parties involved must therefore help make it possible to further citizenship and respect for fundamental rights, avoiding exclusion, discrimination and, above all, ignorance about others.
