It is possible to distinguish three dimensions of the public space. The common space, that is the space a person has to enter to answer the needs of everyday life without any intention to engage in a political discussion: this space must be kept as free as possible, to avoid segregating in their homes people who want to enter it displaying the signs and symbols of their religious or political conceptions. The political space (which can be both physical and virtual) where issues of general interest are debated: this space must be plural, because pluralism is an essential component of democracy. At the same time this dimension of the public space is characterized by a call for responsibility: entering this space means accepting to take into consideration the needs of the whole society. The institutional space that must be and appear fair and impartial not to engender distrust, due to the impression that State institutions privilege a specific worldview.
The paper will apply these distinctions to the manifestations of religion (with particular attention to the topic of religious symbols) that take place in these three dimensions of the public space.
