Within the framework of considérations regarding the training of imams in Belgium, the King Baudouin Foundation sought to produce a report portraying the situation concerning organised secularism and religions in the country. The main aim of such a report was to outline the training of both ministers of recognised religions and secular delegates. In a second phase, a similar approach was taken to describe the situation in a few other European countries. Belgium has no legal provisions or regulations that are recognised as such by the state and impose minimum requirements on the training of religious ministers or secular delegates. Consequently, it is the internal rules laid down by the various religions themselves that define such training requirements. However, some training of this type is organised as part of recognised, subsidised higher education and therefore leads to the conferral of a legally recognised title. Similar situations apply in some other countries. The present study discusses the situation in France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany and Sweden. In all these countries, it is entirely up to the respective religions themselves to stipulate their internal training requirements. However, as in Belgium, such mandatory training may be organised within the framework of higher education that is financed and/or organised by the state and, if need be, incorporated in a bachelor's or master's degree. One significant observation is that in the countries in question combinations of academic and religious requirements apply in various instances, indeed for a relatively large number of religions (at least in the Netherlands and Great Britain). The experience gained in France, the Netherlands and Great Britain also highlights how divided Muslim communities are with respect to the training requirements applying to imams. The establishment of internal standards applying solely within Islam would appear to constitute a first, essential step towards the creation of suitable training that applies to ...