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

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Blog Posts

Peace Cross in Bladensburg, Maryland, courtesy of Executive Office of the Governor of Maryland

August 23, 2019

Can a Religious Symbol Serve a Primarily Secular Purpose?

What becomes of powerful religious symbols when they are given public meanings that are diluted and attenuated from their original meanings? Does the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Bladensburg Cross case create workable precedent for use by the lower courts in evaluating these kinds of claims?

DNA portrayed in columns by Flickr user Nuno Ribeiro

April 22, 2019

Faith Communities and Gene Editing

This week on the Berkley Forum, contributors discuss how faith communities grapple with the ethics of gene editing.

Turkish flag flying in on a historical building overlooking a modern town

April 15, 2019

Politics and Piety in Turkey

This week on the Berkley Forum contributors discuss politics and piety in Turkey in the context of recent efforts by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to expand Turkey’s Islamic identity.

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Events

Contraception and Conscience: A Symposium on Religious Liberty, Women’s Health, and the HHS Rule on Provision of Birth Control Coverage for Employees

Sep
21

2012

Contraception and Conscience: A Symposium on Religious Liberty, Women’s Health, and the HHS Rule on Provision of Birth Control Coverage for Employees

1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Georgetown Law Center

May
7

2015

Natural Law: A Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Trialogue

Sep
23

2011

Islamic Law (Sharia) and U.S. Foreign Policy

Apr
5

2019

“Dead” but “Agile”: Discourses of Inalienability, Islamic Endowments, and Post-war Reconstruction in Beirut

Mar
20

2019

When Does Protecting Faith Imperil Children?

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Publications

Report April 20, 2016

Blasphemy Laws as a Challenge to Religious Freedom

On April 20, 2016, the Religious Freedom Project hosted a conference to explore an emerging and urgent challenge to religious freedom: blasphemy laws. Although they are ostensibly intended to protect majority religions from criticism, these laws can in fact harm the majority religion and broader society by discriminating against disfavored members of the majority, oppressing and alienating…