RL/HS 342 - Religion, Society and the State in Modern France

Compared to the other European countries, France is in a unique situation with regards to relations between Churches and the State; it can be summarized in one word: secularism. This situation can mainly be explained by a complex history tracing its roots in the 19th Century, from the French Revolution to the separation of Church and State in 1905. This course will study this history focusing on the main stages that took place over the course of the 20th century as well as in the contemporary European context.