Encyclopedia of Law and Religion

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Edited by: Gerhard Robbers and W. Cole Durham

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In recent years, issues of freedom of religion or belief and state-religion relations have become increasingly important worldwide. The Encyclopedia of Law and Religion, unique in its breadth and global coverage, provides an important foundational resource for study of these issues. The encyclopedia covers the relation between law and religion in its various aspects, including those related to the role of religion in society, the relations between religion and state institutions, freedom of religion, legal aspects of religious traditions, the interaction between law and religion, and other issues at the junction of law, religion, and state.

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Holy See (Vatican)

(2,526 words)

Author(s): Charles Ladbrooke | Raquel Flores
I. Social Facts   Vatican City, also known as the Holy See, is the smallest independent state in the world, with a territory of 0.44 sq. km and a varying population of less than a thousand people at any given time. The Vatican is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, which is the largest Christian faith in the world. Citizenship is obtained by holding an office within the Holy See, or by administrative decision, but not by birth. Therefore, citizens lose their citizenship once they stop living in or working for the Vatican.  According to the Holy See Press Office, there were 594 people …
Source: Encyclopedia of Law and Religion

Honduras

(2,252 words)

Author(s): Travis J. Hyer
I. Social Facts While there is little reliable information regarding religious affiliation in Honduras, some organizations have attempted to estimate these numbers through public opinion polls. According to the most recent polls, approximately 46% of Hondurans are Catholic, around 41% are Protestant, and 12% either profess some other religion or profess no religion at all. Among the main religious groups within Honduras are Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mennonites, membe…
Source: Encyclopedia of Law and Religion

Hong Kong

(2,500 words)

Author(s): Charles Ladbrooke and Others
I. Social Facts  The population of Hong Kong is approximately 7 million. About 43% of the population practices some form of religion. Buddhism and Taoism are the traditional Chinese faiths, and some aspects of the two faiths are historically interrelated and blend easily—so much so that some practitioners consider themselves adherents of both. Often the same temple can be the preferred site of worship for Buddhists and Taoists, sometimes even simultaneously. There are an estimated 600 Taoist and Bu…
Source: Encyclopedia of Law and Religion

Howland Island

(9 words)

Author(s): not-specified
forthcoming Not Specified Bibliography  
Source: Encyclopedia of Law and Religion

Hungary

(4,720 words)

Author(s): Balázs Schanda
I. Social Facts Since the Reformation, Hungarians have been divided between Catholicism and Protestantism (mainly Calvinism). There is no exact data on religious affiliation. Whereas in the 2001 census only 11% refused to answer the question on religious affiliation, ten years later 27% did not provide an answer. The percentage of those declaring no religious affiliation has risen from 14.5% to 18%, and 20% of those in the younger generations (under age 40) do not belong to any denomination. The fi…
Source: Encyclopedia of Law and Religion