This article examines the role of legal frameworks and everyday interaction in the negotiation of religious diversity in Victoria, Australia. We argue that both formal legal frameworks and everyday interactions are significant in encouraging the respectful negotiation of religious difference. Experiences of historical privilege and visibility impact how religious people and groups experience and understand these processes. Or, put another way, the social position of various faith groups in Australian society shapes how people engage with both legal frameworks such as anti-discrimination legislation, and with other people in everyday interaction. Further, people’s everyday interactions shape their responses towards legal frameworks. Anti-discrimination and anti-vilification laws also shape everyday interactions through an effect that can be described as the ‘shadow of the law’, in which legal decisions communicate information about normative expectations that particular forms of behaviour are acceptable or unacceptable.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	religious diversity, shadow of law, Australia, law, multiculturalism, sociology of law, sociology of religion, religion
Research Division:	Philosophy and Religious Studies
Research Group:	Religious studies
Research Field:	Religion, society and culture
Objective Division:	Culture and Society
Objective Group:	Religion
Objective Field:	Religion and society
UTAS Author:	Ezzy, D (Professor Douglas Ezzy)
UTAS Author:	Banham, R (Miss Rebecca Banham)
ID Code:	144788
Year Published:	2021
Funding Support:	Australian Research Council (DP180101664)
Deposited By:	Office of the School of Social Sciences
Deposited On:	2021-06-10
Last Modified:	2021-09-02
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