Law and Religion

Law and Religion

In our pluralistic world, a variety of oft-conflicting perspectives informs our understanding of moral and political ideas of justice. Additionally, legal cases increasingly span across borders and involve participants with no shared tradition, creating tensions that reflect fundamental moral conflicts. These resources explore how religion grounds, shapes, and conflicts with our legal systems.

Our Experts

Michael Kessler

Managing Director
Department of Government and Law Center

Law and Religion A-Z Subtopics

Narrow your search for Religion and Development content by selecting from this list of subtopics

A

Abortion Subtopic

B

C

D

G

Governance Subtopic

H

I

International Criminal Court Subtopic

J

L

Law Subtopic

P

R

Blog Posts

December 2, 2020

When Caesar Wants to Tame God: France and the Struggle to Control Religious Organizations

Rim-Sarah Alouane explores how new legislation on laïcité in France changes the spirit of French secularism, arguing the proposed regulation of religious non-profit organizations gives too much authority to public officials and undermines the principle of free declaration.

A tipi stands in front of the White House

October 21, 2020

Indigenous Peoples, Sacred Rights, and Religious Freedom

How might Native experiences contribute to broader debates about the theory and practice of religious freedom in the United States? What might religious freedom policies look like if they were to be reimagined from Native viewpoints?

October 15, 2020

The Serbian Orthodox Church and the 2020 Montenegro Elections

Ermin Sinanović explores how the Serbian Orthodox Church influenced the 2020 Montenegro elections by acting as kingmaker of the new government, connecting the church with broader ideals of modern Serbian nationalism and identity.

Explore All Blog Posts

Events

Earth from outer space, with lights indicating global cities.

Nov
12

2020

Nuclear Weapons And International Law 2020

9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST Online

Oct
21

2020

Publications

Lesson Plan February 1, 2021

Religious Freedom and Conscience Exemptions

This curricular module guide introduces conscience exemptions as a pillar of law in the United States and highlights how the legal pursuit of religious freedom is a necessarily imperfect process.