Law, Religion, and Politics Seminar

3 units

Enrollment limit: 16. Drop deadline: 5:00pm the day after the first class meeting. What is the role of religious argument in politics and law? What kinds of arguments are advanced, and how do they differ from one another? Are some of these arguments more acceptable than others in a liberal democracy? This course will explore these questions through the work of legal scholars, theologians, and political theorists. Possible topics include the nature of violence and coercion in the law, constraints on public reason, the relationship between religion and government, and the nature of religious practice and tradition. The course grade will be based on class participation (including one ungraded five-page reaction paper) and a 20-25 page research paper that will be chosen in consultation with the instructor and require a rough draft mid-way through the semester. 3 units.