Paganism, religion and human rights

In a post in October 2012 on concerts and performances in churches and cathedrals we noted, very much in passing, Caroline Harris’s suggestion that the courts:

“… appear to be moving towards accepting a wider definition of religion and faith. Paganism and witchcraft, although not yet specifically identified by the courts, could be deemed to fall within the protection afforded by the human rights legislation” [‘Witchcraft: from Crime to Civil Liberty’ (2011) 167 Law and Justice at 54].

Our conclusion at the time was “But not yet”. But the law has developed fairly rapidly since then and we wonder whether that is still true.

Public authorities seem to have been more accepting of paganism in its various manifestations as “religious” for some time now.  Continue reading