S1071: Theist, Atheist & Secular Constitutions.

Several nations have historically or currently implemented laws or constitutional provisions that promote state atheism, restrict religious practices, or enforce strict secularism, often to suppress religion or limit its influence in public life. Below is a list of nations with notable atheistic or anti-religious laws and constitutions, based on historical and contemporary contexts. Note that the enforcement and interpretation of these laws vary, and some nations have evolved over time to allow more religious freedom.

Nations with Atheistic or Anti-Religious Laws/Constitutions

1. People’s Republic of China

• Status: Officially an atheist state.
• Details: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has governed since 1949, promotes atheism and views religion as a potential threat to state control. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (Article 36) guarantees freedom of religious belief but restricts religious activities that “disrupt public order” or are deemed contrary to state interests. The CCP requires its members to be atheists, and religious activities are heavily regulated, with bans on unsanctioned religious groups (e.g., Falun Gong). Religious education for minors is restricted, and public religious expression is often curtailed.
• Context: Despite constitutional protections, the state suppresses religious movements that challenge its authority, though non-theistic traditions like Confucianism and Taoism are tolerated to varying degrees.

1. North Korea

• Status: De facto atheist state with severe restrictions on religion.
• Details: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) does not explicitly declare atheism in its constitution, but the regime enforces strict control over all aspects of life, including religion, which is seen as a threat to state ideology (Juche). Religious believers face imprisonment, torture, or execution. The constitution (Article 68) nominally grants freedom of religion but is not enforced in practice. Religious activities are banned, and the state promotes a cult of personality around its leaders, effectively replacing religion.
• Context: North Korea’s policies make it one of the most repressive environments for religious expression, with atheism imposed through state control.

1. Cuba

• Status: Historically atheist, with evolving policies.
• Details: From the 1959 Cuban Revolution until 1992, Cuba was officially an atheist state under its communist government, restricting religious activities and banning religious believers from Communist Party membership. The 1992 constitutional amendment removed explicit references to atheism, and the current constitution (2019) recognizes freedom of religion (Article 15). However, restrictions remain, particularly on church construction, and the government monitors religious groups to ensure compliance with state policies.
• Context: While Cuba has softened its anti-religious stance, the legacy of state atheism influences its legal framework, with ongoing limitations on religious infrastructure.

1. Vietnam

• Status: Officially an atheist state with constitutional protections for religion.
• Details: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s constitution (Article 24) recognizes freedom of religion or belief but declares the state atheist, reflecting its communist ideology. Religious activities are regulated, and groups must be approved by the government. Unregistered religious organizations face harassment, and religious leaders are sometimes imprisoned for activities deemed anti-government.
• Context: Vietnam’s policies balance nominal religious freedom with state control, maintaining an atheistic framework in governance.

1. Albania (Historical)

• Status: Formerly the world’s first officially atheist state (1967–1991).
• Details: In 1967, under Enver Hoxha’s Marxist-Leninist regime, Albania declared itself the “first atheist state of the world,” banning all religious practices and institutions. The 1976 Constitution (Article 37) explicitly prohibited religious organizations, and possessing religious texts or participating in religious ceremonies was punishable. After 1991, Albania reversed these policies, and the current constitution guarantees religious freedom.
• Context: Albania’s anti-religious laws were unique in their explicit constitutional ban on religion, but these are no longer in effect.

1. Mexico (Historical)

• Status: Historically enforced anti-clerical laws.
• Details: The Mexican Constitution of 1917 included strong anti-clerical provisions under Articles 3, 5, 24, 27, and 130, aimed at reducing the Catholic Church’s influence. These included bans on religious education in public schools, restrictions on clergy participating in politics, prohibition of monastic orders, and nationalization of church property. The Calles Law (1926) intensified these restrictions, leading to the Cristero War. While many of these provisions have been relaxed, some restrictions, like bans on religious political parties, remain.
• Context: Mexico’s anti-clerical laws were rooted in a desire to separate church and state, but enforcement has softened over time.

1. France (Historical and Current Secularism)

• Status: Strict secularism (laïcité) with historical anti-religious measures.
• Details: During the French Revolution (1789–1799), the state suppressed the Catholic Church, nationalized its properties, and promoted atheistic ideologies like the Cult of Reason. The 1905 Law on the Separation of Church and State formalized laïcité, prohibiting state funding of religion and banning religious symbols in public institutions. While not explicitly atheist, France’s constitution (Article 1) emphasizes secularism, and laws like the 2004 ban on religious symbols in schools reflect this stance.
• Context: France’s secular laws are not anti-religious per se but prioritize state neutrality, occasionally limiting religious expression in public spaces.

1. Soviet Union (Historical)

• Status: De facto atheist state (1917–1991).
• Details: The Soviet Union, under Marxist-Leninist ideology, promoted state atheism, closing churches, persecuting clergy, and banning religious education. The 1936 Constitution (Article 135) nominally protected against religious discrimination, but in practice, religion was suppressed, with exceptions like allowing Sharia in some Islamic regions. After its dissolution in 1991, successor states adopted varying religious policies.
• Context: The Soviet Union’s policies were a hallmark of state atheism, influencing other communist states, but are no longer applicable.

1. Mongolia (Historical)

• Status: Anti-religious policies during communist era (1924–1990).
• Details: Under Soviet influence, the Mongolian People’s Republic launched purges against Buddhism in the 1930s, demolishing over 700 monasteries and killing thousands of monks. The state promoted atheism, mirroring Soviet policies. The 1992 Constitution introduced religious freedom, and these anti-religious laws are no longer in effect.
• Context: Mongolia’s anti-religious policies were tied to its communist period and are historical.

1. German Democratic Republic (East Germany, Historical)
   • Status: Promoted atheism during communist era (1949–1990).
   • Details: The GDR’s constitution (Article 39, 1968) guaranteed religious freedom but in practice promoted atheism through secular education and policies discouraging religious affiliation. By 1986, 60% of the population identified as non-religious due to state-driven secularization. After reunification, Germany’s constitution became fully secular.
   • Context: East Germany’s atheistic policies were part of its communist framework, now historical.

Notes

• Historical vs. Current: Some nations (e.g., Albania, Mexico, Soviet Union, Mongolia, East Germany) had explicitly anti-religious or atheistic policies in the past but have since adopted more neutral or freedom-oriented constitutions. Others, like China, North Korea, and Vietnam, maintain atheistic state ideologies with varying degrees of restriction.
• Secularism vs. Atheism: Countries like France enforce strict secularism (laïcité), which is not equivalent to state atheism but can limit religious expression in public spaces, creating a de facto anti-religious environment in certain contexts.
• Persecution of Atheists: Conversely, some countries criminalize atheism (e.g., Saudi Arabia, where a royal decree brands atheists as terrorists). This list focuses on nations with atheistic or anti-religious laws, not those persecuting atheists.
• Data Limitations: Surveys on atheism (e.g., WIN/Gallup, Pew Research) often conflate “non-religious” with “atheist,” and cultural factors (e.g., non-theistic religions in China) complicate classifications.

Sources

-: State atheism and historical anti-religious policies in Albania, Soviet Union, Mexico, Cuba, Vietnam, Mongolia, and East Germany.
-: China and North Korea’s restrictions on religious freedom.
-: France’s historical and current secular policies.
-: Albania’s historical atheist state declaration.
-: Data on irreligion and atheism prevalence.

If you need more details on specific countries or their legal frameworks, let me know!