Abstract:
There is a widespread tendency in modern, secular society to view law and religion as
unrelated except insofar as they may, from time to time, come into conflict. However, intimate
relations between the two have been constituted and constantly changed throughout history. Law
and religion are two great interconnecting values and belief structures with their own normative,
authoritative sources and mechanisms, as well as their own legislation and amendment processes
and steps. However, at the practical level, the relationship between the two has not often been
smooth sailing. This paper seeks to untangle the confusion, conflicts and complications that have
arisen, especially in the Zimbabwean context, when legal statutes have appeared to be in opposition
with religious beliefs and practices. The major question arising from such a scenario is: How are
communities of faith across the religious divide supposed to react when laws demand that they act
in ways that conflict with either their sacred text whether written or oral? The focus of this paper,
therefore, is to simultaneously examine the place of religion in the public sphere as well as explore
the impact of enacted laws on religion in Zimbabwe. This paper made use of public discourse, as
presented in a WhatsApp group chat of a Bible Challenge Group which took place on 21 February
2021. Secondary sources were utilised in informing this paper’s conceptualisation of religion and
the law.
