Gaetano Dammacco – University of Bari Aldo Moro, Viale de Laurentis 17, Bari, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ERAZ.2020.51
6th International Conference – ERAZ 2020 – KNOWLEDGE BASED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, Online/virtual, May 21, 2020, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Published by: Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans – Belgrade, Serbia
Conference partners: Faculty of Economics and Business, Mediterranean University, Montenegro; University of National and World Economy – Sofia, Bulgaria; Faculty of Commercial and Business Studies – Celje, Slovenia; Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance – Belgrade, Serbia
ISSN 2683-5568, ISBN 978-86-80194-33-2, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ERAZ.2020
Abstract
The current pandemic has created new scenarios and problems regarding religious freedom. To combat the spread of the coronavirus, governments have ordered social distance and total
closure of numerous activities including the celebration of sacred rites without consulting religious
authorities. Religions have accepted the restrictions with a sense of responsibility, but the sacrifice of
religious freedom for the faithful has been great. In addition, the effects of the pandemic together with
the negative effects of globalization will continue over time, generating economic and social damage. In
addition to prayer, religions have invited the faithful to a social commitment to reduce the critical issues
of the crisis and specially to combat poverty. It is therefore necessary to analyze some topics: critical
issues relating to the limitation of the right to religious freedom; what problems arise in the relations
between powers (civil and religious); what problems arise in relations between state and religions; how
the constitutional rights of the faithful and citizens are protected; what are the legal problems internal
to the different religions, considering that the judgment on the validity of online rites is different; what
is the role of religions in the face of the economic crisis. For the first time since the beginning of the
human rights era, there has been a serious conflict between human rights, especially for the greater
protection given to the right to health. The right to religious freedom also suffered, but it must be considered that the protection of the right to religious freedom also contributes to the recovery of a „good”
economy, which can counteract the negative effects of the pandemic and globalization. We must build a
personalist humanism, which the alliance between religions can promote. A humanism that respects the
rights and dignity of man, against the logic of profit, and that rewrites the ethical rules of the economy.
Looking at the post-pandemic, religions can be the soul of the ethical and moral rules that must guide
the „good economy” in society to overcome social and economic differences
Key words
Religious freedom, Economic crisis, Religion’s role, New humanism
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