Legal Commentary

This conference -- "Freedom of, Freedom for, or Freedom From Religion:  The Meanings of Religious Freedom in America" -- should be great.  If you are anywhere near South Bend on Feb. 4 and 5, consider coming.  Panelists and speakers include Mark Lilla, Nick Wolterstorff, Bill Galston, Michael Zuckert, David Campbell, Dan Philpot, John McGreevy, and Mark Noll (and me).  Here's more:

At America?s founding three different and sometimes competing visions of religion in American political life were planted in American soil: freedom of religion, for religion, and from religion. These three distinct conceptions converged at the time of the American founding in the form of the religion clauses of the First Amendment, as well as the many parallel provisions in the state constitutions. Yet Americans do not always agree on the role religion should play in American public life. Should it be excluded from the public sphere or restrictions placed upon its use in public life or is the democratic process weakened and civic life diminished without the full participation of those with strong religious views? What should the relationship between religion and public life be in America? What is religious freedom today: freedom of, for, or from religion?