UM dialogue between religion and the republic
How can we reconcile religious practice with life in society, and personal beliefs with respect for republican laws? At a time when public debate and current events raise more questions than they provide answers, the university degree program in “Religions and Democratic Society” is specifically designed to fill students’ gaps in understanding the principles governing the relationship between the French state and religions: secularism, the separation of church and state…
As summarized by Professor Gérard Gonzalez, director of the university certificate program
The point is to explain that France is a country where people enjoy very broad religious freedom, which entails rights but also a number of duties and limitations…
Launched last year, this degree program at the University of Montpellier—offered by the School of Law and Political Science—is open to religious leaders while maintaining a policy of gender diversity, as students study alongside deacons, imams, chaplains, and community leaders.
A completely free degree
This University Diploma (DU) program was launched by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of the Interior, as part of the Minister of the Interior’s responsibilities as Minister of Religious Affairs. Enrollment is therefore free for all students thanks to a grant provided by the Ministry of the Interior to the university. About ten similar University Diploma programs have been established nationwide.“The Ministry of the Interior aims to establish a nationwide network by launching university certificates dedicated to this topic,” explains Professor Gérard Gonzalez, director of the program.
All follow the same model: starting with a foundation of general education on the values of the Republic, the program covers the major religious traditions, from Christianity to Judaism, including Buddhism and Islam. It examines these traditions through the lenses of history, law, and sociology.