Law and Religion: socio-legal analysis of religious freedom and its legislative and jurisprudential systematization

• Grant number: 24/13299-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Law - Special Rights
• Principal Investigator: Marcio Henrique Pereira Ponzilacqua
• Grantee: Marcio Henrique Pereira Ponzilacqua
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Direito de Ribeirão Preto (FDRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Maria Celis Brunet ; Francirosy Campos Barbosa ; Rodrigo Vitorino Souza Alves

Abstract

The research project aims to set and increase research in Brazil in the context of the intersection between Law and Religion. In its global sense, the project proposes to expand and internationalize the discussion on Law and Religion, opening new research channels with entities from different countries for the unveiling of social, legal and philosophical phenomena, which are contemporary and sometimes timeless. It follows two individual research grant projects obtained by Marcio H. P. Ponzilacqua (Proc. n. 2013/22109-4; 2019/07075-2) who is now coordinator and plaintiff. It has a team of researchers, foreign and national, of considerable scientific research and production in the intended field. All of the researches have academic and scientific production in the legal field. It will contain an analysis of three dimensions: 1) theoretical and methodological development, 2) application and research, 3) consolidation and perspectives, with an emphasis on legislation and jurisprudential examination. The theoretical investigative bases will be drawn from the Sociology of Law and Religion, along the lines that we have been developing since the FAPESP research, individual research aid (process n. 2013/22109-4), contained in several works and articles referred to in the project. There will be two axes of analysis, which will guide the results, namely: 1) Socio-legal analysis: from the perspective of the Sociology of Law and Religion, present specific research concerning religious freedoms, or socio-legal transformations regarding religious disputes and their legislative and judicial reflexes; 2) Legislative, jurisprudential and hermeneutical analysis: compilation of material, in the form of books or compendia that translate the current conceptual, doctrinal and jurisprudential considerations about religious freedom in Brazil. It will focus, especially, on constitutional interpretations, coming from the Federal Supreme Court or other higher courts and in specific federal, state or municipal legislation that have become pioneers or emblematic in terms of the relationship between law and religion. The expectation, engendered by the team's extensive scientific experience and the high technical support achieved, is that the scientific community can measure and publish the results in related areas, especially those of legal science and sociologies. It is also expected to foster the intersection and advancement of research in the field of Law and Religion in Brazil, comparing it with international research. The production of articles, the organization and participation in international conferences and international academic exchange periods, the consolidation of a permanent forum and even the compilation of an eventual book or books on the systematization of knowledge in the area are expected and feasible results. (AU)