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The French principle of secularism or laïcité is more than a legal arrangement between state and religion or the respect of religious freedom. It is a core feature of French national culture and civic life. However, it is facing mounting challenges in an era of growing cultural and religious diversity. Could covenantal pluralism be a way to make French public space more inclusive and democratic?

Laïcité: From Enlightenment to Exclusion

Originally born from Enlightenment ideals, French secularism is deeply embedded in the nation’s continuous struggle against the societal and political influence of the Catholic Church. The goal of the 1905 Law of Separation of Church and State was to solidify the state’s neutrality in religious affairs, ensuring that the government would not recognize or fund any religion.

Yet, in practice, laïcité has often gone beyond neutrality. As I argue in a recent article in The Review of Faith & International Affairs, instead of providing a level playing field for all religions, it has turned into a mechanism of cultural conformity, particularly in response to growing Muslim visibility. Laws like the 2004 ban on religious symbols in schools or the 2010 ban on full-face veils have disproportionately impacted Muslim communities—raising questions about whether laïcité upholds equality or enforces a singular cultural norm disguised as neutrality.

The Case for Covenantal Pluralism

Covenantal pluralism offers a compelling alternative. As articulated by W. Christopher Stewart, Chris Seiple, and Dennis R. Hoover, covenantal pluralism requires (1) freedom and fairness for all faiths/worldviews, (2) a culture of cross-cultural religious literacy (CCRL), and (3) practical expression and embodiment of character virtues via multi-faith engagement. Unlike legal secularism, which emphasizes the separation of religion and state, covenantal pluralism focuses on fostering mutual respect, relational engagement, and shared responsibility among religious and secular communities alike. Covenantal pluralism does not support religious politics; rather, it promotes the redesign of public spaces as inclusive arenas where individuals of diverse beliefs can engage in meaningful dialogue and contribute to the common good.

This model values deep civic relationships over surface-level tolerance. Most importantly, it sees people not merely as individual citizens but as members of communities whose identities, including religious ones, deserve recognition and space in the public sphere. Covenantal pluralism acknowledges differences without resorting to relativism, advocating instead for constructive dialogue and moral reciprocity.

Institutional and Covenantal: A Necessary Partnership

To operationalize this vision, I suggest to draw from both institutional pluralism and covenantal pluralism. The former emphasizes the legal and structural reforms needed to recognize religious communities as legitimate public actors. It advocates for:

• Reforming education to include history of religions and religious concepts
• Creating space for faith-based institutions in social services
• Enhancing political representation of minorities

On the other hand, while covenantal pluralism includes some institutional elements it places relatively more emphasis on relational deepening via CCRL and exercise of practical virtues—fostering mutual understanding and social trust between communities, including the non-believers’ ones. It calls for:

• Inclusive public discourse
• Forums for interfaith engagement
• Policies that promote coexistence without coercion

Together, institutional and covenantal pluralisms form a robust blueprint for transforming laïcité into a more inclusive and democratic concept.

Why Change Is Hard—but Necessary

The road to such transformation is neither easy nor linear. Laïcité is more than a legal doctrine: it is a key component of what I call the French national ego. In other words, laïcité is a deeply ingrained norm that defines what it means to be “truly French.” It is taught in schools, enforced in policies, and celebrated in public space. From this perspective, public religious expression is often perceived not just as inappropriate but as a threat to national cohesion. This makes any attempt to reform it appear, at first glance, as a betrayal of national identity.

Still, ignoring the social consequences of this rigidity is no longer an option. Rising cultural diversity, fueled by immigration and globalization, has made it clear that enforcing a narrow vision of secularism only deepens societal divides. Minorities—particularly Muslims—face growing alienation, discrimination, and exclusion in the name of laïcité.

Reframing Republican Ideals and Democratic Resilience

A critical step toward this change would be reframing secular reform as a continuation—not a rejection—of Republican ideals. To be heard, political leaders will have to draw parallels between the revolutionary reforms of the past and the pluralist needs of today. Just as the Jules Ferry Laws once redefined education to align with Enlightenment values, a new civic framework could integrate pluralism into the national identity while upholding liberty, equality, and fraternity.

This means promoting policies that:

• Allow for inclusive civic education about multiple belief systems
• Protect individual religious expression in both public and private settings

These changes would not weaken the Republic but strengthen it by ensuring that all citizens feel recognized and valued.

Ultimately, what is at stake is not just France’s model of secularism, but the very resilience of its democracy. A democracy thrives not when it erases differences, but when it manages them fairly and respectfully. Covenantal and institutional pluralism offer tools to do just that—creating a civic space where difference is not merely tolerated but seen as a strength.

The alternative—continued exclusion, symbolic erasure, and legal marginalization—threatens to erode public trust and increase polarization. By contrast, a reimagined laïcité grounded in pluralism could pave the way for a stronger, more inclusive society.

A Path Forward

France is at a crossroads. The historical model of laïcité, forged in the fires of Enlightenment and Revolution, was once a necessary antidote to religious domination. But in today’s social environment of deep diversity, it risks becoming a barrier to inclusion.

Therefore, combining covenantal and institutional pluralism offers not just critique, but a vision for renewal. It challenges France to see pluralism not as a threat but as a shared civic opportunity. In doing so, it opens the door to a future where laïcité does not erase identities but embraces them, affirming the democratic promise of liberty and equality for all.