Church–State Relations in Europe

Academic lawyers frequently distinguish between three models of church–state relations in Europe: state–church systems, separation systems and hybrid systems. However, the sociologist of religion Grace Davie has suggested that by using sociological, historical and legal evidence to understand religion in Europe, we can reveal a basic common ‘European’ approach to religion, which also acknowledges the differences between the northern Protestant state–church systems and the southern Catholic separation systems. This article seeks to elucidate the legal model and to assess whether Davie's analysis is preferable in light of the legal evidence. This will enable a tentative conclusion to be made as to the religious identity of the continent: Is Europe Christian or secular?