The lecture “Secularism in France at the Beginning of the 21st Century – Debunking Some Common Misconceptions,” presented by Anaïs Guilet, Associate Professor atthe Laboratory of Languages, Literatures, and Societies – Transborder and International Studies (LLSETI),Faculty of Letters, Languages, and Humanities,will take place on Tuesday, October 10, at 6:00 p.m. at the USMB Administration Building in Chambéry.
It will also be held on:
- Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. in Chamonix (Salle du Bicentenaire, 94 Place du Mont-Blanc)
- Thursday, October 12, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. in Annecy (La Turbine Sciences, Place Chorus, Cran-Gevrier 74960 Annecy)
- Thursday, April 5, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in Albertville (Le Dôme Cinéma, 135 Place de l’Europe)
- Thursday, April 12, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. in Annemasse (Château Rouge, 1 Route de Bonneville)
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Secularism is one of the foundations of the French Republic. It has been a hot topic in public debate in recent years, sometimes causing tension, no doubt because it is often misunderstood or over-interpreted. It has become common for elected officials and public figures to invoke the 1905 law in order to advocate for certain measures or oppose others, ultimately dictating what secularism is or is not. Some of their proposals, particularly those that involve increasing exceptions to the principle of secularism (such as increasing opportunities to finance religious groups, helping them to construct buildings, etc.), are sometimes contrary to the original meaning of secularism, as it was conceived in 1905, which leads to a certain amount of confusion.
However, in reality, secularism and the 1905 law remain entirely consistent, clear, and therefore modern. Indeed, many questions can be answered by the text itself or the spirit of the 1905 law. Using examples from everyday life, the speaker will examine the meaning of secularism, as it has been historically conceived, and its applications in public services (students, parents accompanying school trips) and in public spaces (Christmas nativity scenes, etc.).
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