The place of religion in the public realm is the subject of frequent and lively debate in the media, among academics and policymakers, and within communities. With this edited collection, Solange Lefebvre and Lori G. Beaman bring together a series of case studies of religious groups and practices from all across Canada that re-examine and question the classic distinction between the public and private spheres.

Religion in the Public Sphere explores the public image of religious groups, legal issues relating to “reasonable accommodations,” and the role of religion in public services and institutions like health care and education. Offering a wide range of contributions from religious studies, political science, theology, and law, Religion in the Public Sphere presents emerging new models to explain contemporary relations between religion, civil society, the private sector, family, and the state.

Solange LEFEBVRE a accompagné la rédaction du présent rapport de recherche durant l’année 2011-2012. Détentrice d’un baccalauréat en musique, interprétation-piano (Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, 1984) un Ph. D. en théologie (Université de Montréal 1992) et un D.E.A. en anthropologie sociale,(École des Hautes Études en Sciences sociales Paris, 1996, elle fut nommée Titulaire de la Chaire religion, culture et société en 2003 et fonda le Centre d’études des religions (CERUM) de l’Université de Montréal, qu’elle dirigea jusqu’en décembre 2008.). Elle est membre du comité éditorial de la revue internationale Concilium. Parmi ses derniers livres, on compte Cultures et spiritualités des jeunes (Bellarmin 2008), Le patrimoine religieux du Québec (PUL 2009). Elle fut la première femme francophone en études religieuses admise à la Société Royale du Canada à l’automne 2011.

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Lori G. Beaman is Professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa and Director of the Religion and Diversity Project. She is also a Canada Research Chair in the Contextualization of Religion in a Diverse Canada.

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‘Characterized by fine scholarship, this book will be useful to many interested in issues of religion in the public sphere.’

Choice vol 52:03:2014

‘A very worthwhile book which should be widely read.’

British Journal of Canadian Studies vol 29:02:2016