TY - JOUR AU - M.T. Najman AB - The function of the law in shaping social values is exposed in the article. Thispaper considers whether certain practices penalised in the surveyed countries (carrying our rituals with the use of human remains) could be classified as intangible cultural heritage and, thus, whether these practices should be legally protected. The main conclusion of the analysis is the statement that criminal law as a response to shamanism is inconsistent with the basic principles of a democratic state oflaw, including the right to expression and self-determination. Assuming that described social phenomenon exists in a society, and at the same time, this practice does not threaten other members of this society and is commonly accepted, the legislator should avoid creating regulations that are inconsistent with the current axiological system in a given community. The elimination of certain practices should take place by creating civilisation awareness inside a community. Criminal law does not fulfil this function. On the contrary, it contributes to the deepening and consolidation of the existence of certain pathological phenomena, as well as to the disappearance of indigenous cultures. BT - Religions DO - 10.3390/rel14010023 LA - English M1 - 1 N1 - Publisher: MDPI N2 - The function of the law in shaping social values is exposed in the article. Thispaper considers whether certain practices penalised in the surveyed countries (carrying our rituals with the use of human remains) could be classified as intangible cultural heritage and, thus, whether these practices should be legally protected. The main conclusion of the analysis is the statement that criminal law as a response to shamanism is inconsistent with the basic principles of a democratic state oflaw, including the right to expression and self-determination. Assuming that described social phenomenon exists in a society, and at the same time, this practice does not threaten other members of this society and is commonly accepted, the legislator should avoid creating regulations that are inconsistent with the current axiological system in a given community. The elimination of certain practices should take place by creating civilisation awareness inside a community. Criminal law does not fulfil this function. On the contrary, it contributes to the deepening and consolidation of the existence of certain pathological phenomena, as well as to the disappearance of indigenous cultures. PY - 2023 T2 - Religions TI - Criminal Law Response to Shamanism—Is Combating Immaterial Culture a Means to Civilisation Progress on the Example of Penal Code Regulations of the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo? UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85146746419&doi=10.3390%2frel14010023&partnerID=40&md5=a20687e40c3877ad42c57d8861ebc8da VL - 14 SN - 20771444 ER -