RELIGION AND NATIONALISM IN EUROPE

ABSTRACT: At the beginning of the 21st century, nationalism is still on the rise in Europe, exalting elements such as language, ethnicity, religion or the awareness of belonging to a political entity, creating exclusionary communities. Religion, which for centuries has operated as an element of identity, is being used in some countries to either encourage or restrict the presence of religion in the public sphere. The author analyses the dangers of the political use of religion in Europe as well as the use of political ideologies as a substitute for religion. 
KEYWORDS: religious freedom, nationalism, laicism, Europe, politic religions, identity, human rights