Law and Religion

Law and Religion. (2 or 3 credit hours) This course will present an exploration of the historical formation and current judicial interpretations of the establishment and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment, as well as the theories of church and state, and religion and law, that support and contest these interpretations. The course will also compare and contrast the prevailing models of these protections in Europe and the United States, as well as explore intersections of law and religion, including the effect of religion on law and of law on religion, the degree to which law should accommodate religious beliefs and practices, the concept of legal pluralism, and the secularization of the American legal system.