The French model of the separation of Church and State, enshrined in the 1905 law, is just one legal form of secularism among many. Nor is it unique to France: a separatist model had already been established in the United States a century and a half earlier.
Throughout the world, several conceptions of secularism coexist. Some, such as Belgium, Spain and Italy, recognize religious denominations. Others, such as England, Denmark and Greece, are rooted in the historical legacy of a state religion.
Despite their differences, all these models fall within the framework of the rule of law and are based on three fundamental principles: the guarantee of freedom of conscience and the free public exercise of religion, the autonomy of the State and society with regard to religious or philosophical doctrines, and the non-discrimination of individuals on the grounds of their religious affiliation.
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