The Contribution of Christianism in the Construction of European Identity: A Legal-Historical Approach

Abstract

This paper examines the contribution of Christianism as one of the key elements in the origin of the idea of Europe, in the shaping of a series of common ethical and moral values, and, ultimately, in the emergence of a common conscience of the European reality. Therefore, the text presents some historical reflections on Christianism and the development of a common European perception, with a special emphasis on Middle Ages and Christendom. More recently, the historical view regarding the “Christian roots” of Europe has collided with certain stances at the core of the European Union, which argue for a conception of European Union distant from any religious influence. In this regard, we offer some thoughts related to the controversy surrounding the unsuccessful initiatives to establish a Constitution for Europe and about the reference to the “Christian heritage” of Europe.