Joel Halldorf is a professor of church history and believes that the state needs to draw a line, so that political parties and philosophical communities are not able to take advantage of the law on freedom of religion.
- If you let go of this limit, political parties and philosophical associations can start applying and then the whole law risks being watered down.
That's what I think they're trying to accomplish here.
But on the other hand, other associations have been admitted under this definition, he says.
Does not meet the requirements
The decision of the Chamber of Deputies, where the authority justifies why the humanists are not registered as a religious community, is quite clear.
The Kammarkollegiet looks for religious activities and the Humanists say they are a secular activity, says Joel Halldorf.
- The state defines religion within the law on religious communities.
Religion is communities for religious activities, such as organizing religious services.
Based on that, all applications are tested - those are the two criteria you have.
If you meet the requirements, you can be registered as a religious community and be protected by the religious freedom legislation and perhaps receive grants that accrue to religious communities.