Thread by @TheAtlantic

1/6 Can a democracy banish God? @RachelDonadio reports on how France came to view religion as a threat to national identity.
theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…

2/6 The Confirming Respect for the Principles of the Republic bill, also called the anti-separatism bill, is the latest salvo in a centuries-old battle between the French state and organized religion, Donadio explains.

3/6 Among other things, the bill places stricter controls on religious associations, gives the state broad authority to temporarily shut down any house of worship if there is a suspicion that it is inciting hatred or violence, and puts tighter restrictions on asylum seekers.

4/6 The United States, in guaranteeing freedom of religion, sought to shield religion from state involvement. France, in guaranteeing freedom of religion, sought to shield the state from religious involvement.

5/6 “The contrast between France and the U.S. could hardly be sharper—but it conceals a common challenge. Whether the issue is religion, race, or region, both nations are trying to set the rules by which diverse groups exist and function within a unified whole.”

6/6 Read “Why Is France So Afraid of God?” in our December 2021 issue: theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…