Summary
Since gaining independence, Georgia has passed through many radical political and economic changes. Thus, Georgian society is accustomed to various reforms, particularly reforms in the legal field, as a part of ordinary life. However, despite this familiarity with reforming political, economic, and legal systems, the universally recognized values promoted by these reforms have not vet become deeply rooted in the mentality of Georgian citizens. This Article addresses the importance of properly understood and properly implemented reforms in the legal field and stresses the importance of filling the gaps in current Georgian church-state relations. This Article discusses these legal gaps in the context of supporting democratic reforms in the country. In this long and delicate process of forming church-state relations in a way that recognizes and respects all religious groups equally, members of Georgian society should remember Georgia's culture of self-preservation in the nineteenth century, the period when language, motherhood, and religion were key elements for Georgia's survival.
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Extract
Legal Aspects of Church-State Relations in Post-Revolutionary Georgia
I. INTRODUCTION
Since gaining independence,1 Georgia has passed through many radical political and economic changes. Thus, Georgian society is accustomed to various reforms, particularly reforms in the legal field, as a part of ordinary life.2 However, despite this familiarity with reforming political, economic, and legal systems, the universally recognized values promoted by these reforms have not yet become deeply rooted in the mentality of Georgian citizens. Because these values have not been internalized, the actual enforcement of human rights protection remains in a very fragile state.3 A change in the current social attitude toward equality and respect for diversity is critical to the further development of democracy in the country.Lacking maturity in civic awareness, Georgian society is showing symptoms of the so-called "snail syndrome." When a snail comes into contact with a strange environment, it hides in its shell and tries to protect itself from possible danger. Any unexpected confrontation with reality is necessarily associated with danger and the instinct of self-preservation kicks in.This "snail syndrome" is a primitive feeling that is also characteristic of human nature-a trait that manifests itself at both the individual and collective level. In a modern society, this primitive instinct presents itself in cautious, guarded behavior and constant preparation to cope with any possible danger. While this reaction is underst...See the full content of this document
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