Merz causes a stir: Is Germany really secular?

Merz causes a stir: Is Germany really secular?

On July 24, 2025, Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany, caused a stir with his unfortunate statement that Germany was secular. This mistake occurred during his visit to the Hannover Medical School and was considered embarrassing by many. Merz's inadequate answers to questions about religious constitutional law left numerous ambiguities as to how Time online reported. In reality, however, the situation in Germany is completely different: the state is considered plural and not secular.

A secular Germany would permanently change the entire social structure, since the role of religion in the public sphere is firmly anchored in the Basic Law. Historically, Germany has been defined by complex developments that are also linked to the Reformation in 1517 and the sectarian conflicts that followed. The Peace of Westphalia of 1648 ended these civil wars and led to the emergence of an early form of secularized public violence, such as the Federal Agency for Civic Education explained in detail.

The path to religious diversity

The separation between the state and religious institutions, known in Germany as the “separation of church and state,” emerged during the European Enlightenment. Unlike countries like France, where there is strict separation, Germany is characterized by a partnership between churches and state. This is regulated by numerous concordats and state church treaties. Article 140 of the Basic Law refers to the provisions of the Weimar Constitution, which enshrines the principle of religious freedom.

However, this freedom and the equal treatment of religious communities have remained a sensitive issue. For years, humanist associations have been calling for the churches' privileges to be dismantled, while others have defended current church funding. There are always legal disputes about different aspects of religious freedom, such as Islamic religious instruction or the handling of religious clothing in everyday school life. These legal rulings show that the state has no religious identity of its own and must declare itself theologically incompetent in order to guarantee religious freedom.

Tensions in public space

Today, social acceptance and discussions about the role of religion in public spaces are changing. In particular, the debates about teachers wearing headscarves are a reflection of the different views on religious freedom and integration. Factors such as secularization and pluralization shape the debate. Urban spaces, and East Germany in particular, are often populated predominantly by non-religious or non-organized people, which leads to tensions and different opinions about the public visibility of religion.

Against the background of this complex issue, the question remains as to how the legal framework and social perceptions will develop in the future. The balance between secular and religious citizens will be crucial for the design of German religious constitutional law. So far it is clear: Friedrich Merz did no service to the truth with his statement, but probably raised more questions than answered.