Frankfurt/M., Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Wien. The book dedicates itself to the right of autonomy of the churches and religious communities in Europe and the USA. This right of self-determination is embedded in many different, very complex relationships between the state and religious communities. It touches conceptions of freedom of religion and its limits based on different cultures and political settings. Numerous leading experts of the law on religion in Europe and the USA analyze the right of autonomy of the churches and religious communities. They thus offer profound information and many ideas to a better mutual understanding. Contents: E. Andries: Religious and Philosophical Norms in Constitutions of Germany and the United States - M. Ariens: Defining Church in American Law - S. van Bisterveld: Religious Liberty and Church Autonomy in the Netherlands - A. Freiherr v. Campenhausen: Church Autonomy in Germany - J. Casey: Church Autonomy and Religious Liberty in Ireland - M. Chopko: Constitutional Protection for Church Autonomy: A Practitioner’s View - P. Dane: The Varieties of Religious Autonomy - W. Durham: The Right to Autonomy in Religious Affairs: A Comparative View - C. Esbeck: The American System of Church-State Relations - E. McGlynn Gaffney: Religious Autonomy and the Exemption of Religious Organizations from Federal Taxation in the United States - F. Gedicks: Towards an LDS Understanding of Church Autonomy - M. Hill: Church Autonomy in the United Kingdom - M. Kiviorg: Church Autonomy in Estonia - K. Lash: Five Models of Church Autonomy - G. Long: Church Autonomy and Religious Liberty in Italy - J. Martinez-Torron: Church Autonomy and Religious Liberty inSpain - P. Mazurkiewicz: Autonomy of the Church and Freedom of Religion in Poland - R. Minnerath: Church Autonomy in Europe - V. Mortensen: Church Autonomy and Religious Liberty in Denmark - C. Mousin: State Constitutions and the Autonomy of Religious Institutions - C. Papastathis: Religious Self-Administration in the Hellenic Republic - A. Pauly: State and Church in Luxembourg - I. Plesner: State Church and Church Autonomy in Norway - R. Podoprigora: Church Autonomy and Religious Liberty in Kazakstan - A. Rodriguez Moya: Caritas in Spain: Its Evolution and Volunteers - P. Roudik: Church Autonomy in the Russian Federation - G. Rutz: Church Autonomy and Religious Liberty in Switzerland - B. Schanda: Church Autonomy and Religious Liberty - National Report on Hungary - B. Schinkele: Church Autonomy in Austria - J. de Sousa e Brito: Project of Law on Religious Freedom - R. Torfs: Church Autonomy in Belgium - J. Tretera: Church Autonomy in the Czech Republic - J. van der Vyver: Sphere Sovereignty of Religious Institutions - W. Cole Durham Jr.: The Right to Autonomy in Religious Affairs: A Comparative View.