KIVIORGGALLEYFINALEDITS 7/24/2009 11:44:19 AM THE PERMISSIBLE SCOPE OF LEGAL LIMITATIONS ON THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF IN ESTONIA

In 1991, Estonia reclaimed its independence and removed itself from the shadow of Soviet occupation. Although Estonia is a country with a predominantly Christian background and history, it cannot be called religiously homogeneous. Today’s religious picture in Estonia is a mosaic of different faiths and denominations. Secularization has also played a significant role, especially in the last 100 years and has shaped the attitudes of contemporary society toward religion. Today, only approximately 23 % of the Estonian population (in January 2003 estimated to be 1,356,045 people1) are officially connected with various Christian Churches.2 The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church has been the dominant church in Estonia since the middle of the 16th century. Today, only about 11 % of the population officially belongs to this church.3 The next largest religious community is the Orthodox Church (about 10 % of the population), which also has a long historical tradition.4 There are smaller communities of Roman Catholics, Baptists, Jews, Methodists, Muslims, Buddhists, and others. Interaction between and among the churches and religious congregations is generally amicable, which helps stabilize church-state relations. ∗ Ms. Kiviorg is a lecturer of public international law and European Union law at the University of Tart