INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE 'RELIGION, POLITICS, LAW'

CONCLUSIONS

The participants of the international scientific conference 'Religion, politics, law' express their gratefulness to the organizers of this scientific event - Eparchy of Montenegro and Littoral of Serbian Orthodox Church, the Institute of Comparative Law and Center for the Study of Religion and Religious Tolerance, who all felt the need for the scientific reassessment of specific relationship between religion, politics and law as the theme which for decades has been on the margins of the society. The participants of this meeting express deep gratitude to His Eminence Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and Exarch of the Most Holy Throne in Peć Amfilohije, Ph.D. and also to the brotherhood of medieval monastery Podmaine in Budva, for their hospitality and sponsorship.
1. Religion, politics and law are social categories and as such are very important for science. In this region, over the past decades it was not paid due scientific attention to these issues.
2. There is no doubt that nowadays this is very important subject, particularly in secular countries, because it is necessary, through a scientific approach, to grasp of not only historical, but also present-day imminent connection between religion, politics and law, wherein each of these social categories, regardless of their orientation, interconnection and interplay, still retains its uniqueness.
3. Religion and faith today, as always, have a special place not only in individual human life but also in the whole society. Churches and religious communities carry out their mission in the particular political and legal systems of the countries to which they belong and thus represent social and legal categories.
4. The conference has accomplished its goal - it gathered a large number of scientific staff and guests. We have to express our gratitude to the participants from Russia, Italy, Austria and England which shows that this conference connected the scientists from the different countries, not only from this region, but wider. The Conference was crowned by the publication of the collection of papers in which 58 authors at nearly 1000 pages presented their findings.
5. The authors, starting from different theoretical assumptions, set up numerous questions in their papers and discussions, but at the same time they offer comprehensive answers to these questions.
6. Religion and faith are extremely important social phenomenon that so far has been unjustly marginalized due to ideological and political reasons. It was concluded that it is necessary to continuously assert the importance of religion and faith. Also, there is the need to continue the research of the relationship between religion, politics and law. It is essential that the faculties of theology, political sciences and law pay greater importance to the studying of these phenomena.
7. Through the mission of churches and religious communities, especially traditional ones, religion as well as faith provided immeasurable contribution to the development of morality, culture, education and overall social progress. Political office holders and public authorities very often did not recognize this role of religion and faith, especially in the totalitarian regimes.
8. In its many acts, modern democratic states do not only emphasize the necessity of establishing and conducting an ongoing dialogue with representatives of churches and religious communities, but also constantly emphasize the particular contribution of religion and faith, churches and religious communities to the development of the society.
9. It is essential to express the understanding of religious peculiarities and differences during the preparation and adoption of legal regulations concerning the legal status of churches and religious communities, as well as other regulations that apply to them. As a matter of fact there is need for public officials to show additional responsibility regarding the ongoing dialogue and care about improvement of the status of churches and religious communities and exercising of right to freedom of religion.
10. This scientific conference could serve as an example of outstanding cooperation between church and scientific institutions, which is marked by mutual respect and that as such should be nurtured in future endeavors to other similar topics.