Canopy Forum’s Literature Highlights series shares important new works addressing issues at the intersection of law and religion. Here you’ll find excerpts, reviews, and commentary on the scholarship shaping our world today.
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- “Religion and Identity in an Age of Individualization” by Ted A. Smith
Religion and Identity in an Age of IndividualizationTed A. Smith Excerpted from The End of Theological Education by Ted A. Smith (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company). Reprinted … Read more - “Advanced Introduction to Law and Religion” by Frank S. Ravitch
Advanced Introduction to Law and ReligionFrank S. Ravitch This literature highlight is drawn from Advanced Introduction to Law and Religion by Frank S. Ravitch (Edward Elgar … Read more - “Religious Diversity in Europe: Mediating the Past to the Young” by Riho Altnurme, Elena Arigita, and Patrick Pasture
Religious Diversity in Europe: Mediating the Past to the YoungRiho Altnurme, Elena Arigita, and Patrick Pasture The following is an introduction to Religious Diversity in … Read more - “Orphans of the Enlightenment: The Demoralization of the Academy and Law” by John E. Coons
The Case for Parental Choice: God, Family, and Educational LibertyJohn E. Coons This is an adapted excerpt from Chapter 5 of The Case for Parental … Read more - “Historic Houses of Worship in Peril: Conserving Their Place in American Life” By Thomas Edward Frank
Historic Houses of Worship in Peril: Conserving Their Place in American Life By Thomas Edward Frank This excerpt from Historic Houses of Worship in Peril: … Read more - “Constituting Religion: Islam, Liberal Rights, and the Malaysian State” by Tamir Moustafa
Constituting Religion: Islam, Liberal Rights, and the Malaysian StateTamir Moustafa The following is an excerpt from Tamir Moustafa’s Constituting Religion: Islam, Liberal Rights, and the … Read more - “Federal Anti-Indian Law: The Legal Entrapment of Indigenous Peoples” by Peter d’Errico
Federal Anti-Indian Law: The Legal Entrapment of Indigenous PeoplesPeter d’Errico The following is an excerpt from Peter d’Errico’s Federal Anti-Indian Law: The Legal Entrapment of … Read more - “The Polish Contribution to the Global Legal Culture” by Franciszek Longchamps de Bérier and Rafael Domingo
The Polish Contribution to the Global Legal Culture Franciszek Longchamps de Bérier and Rafael Domingo The following is excerpted from the Introduction of Law and Christianity in … Read more - “Sacrifice and Conversion in the Early Modern Atlantic World” by Maria Berbara
Sacrifice and Conversion in the Early Modern Atlantic WorldMaria Berbara The following is an adapted excerpt from Sacrifice and Conversion in the Early Modern Atlantic … Read more - “Unbelievers: An Emotional History of Doubt” by Alec Ryrie
Unbelievers: An Emotional History of DoubtAlec Ryrie Adapted from UNBELIEVERS: AN EMOTIONAL HISTORY OF DOUBT BY ALEC RYRIE, published by The Belknap Press of Harvard … Read more - “The Blessings of Liberty: Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the Western Legal Tradition” by John Witte Jr.
The Blessings of Liberty: Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the Western Legal TraditionJohn Witte, Jr. The following is excerpted from John Witte, Jr.’s The … Read more - “The Polish Contribution to the Global Legal Culture Foreword” by John Witte, Jr.
The Polish Contribution to the Global Legal CultureJohn Witte, Jr. The following is excerpted from Law and Christianity in Poland: The Legacy of the Great … Read more - “The Rights of Women” by Erika Bachiochi
The Rights of Women: Reclaiming a Lost VisionErika Bachiochi This excerpt is from the first chapter of The Rights of Women: Reclaiming a Lost Vision … Read more - “Banning Black Gods: Law and Religions of the African Diaspora” by Danielle Boaz
Banning Black Gods:Law and Religions of the African Diaspora Danielle Boaz This excerpt is adapted from Banning Black Gods: Law and Religions of the African Diaspora … Read more - “Joseph Smith for President: The Prophet, The Assassins, and the Fight for American Religious Freedom’ by Spencer W. McBride” by Peter Wosnik
“REVIEW: Joseph Smith for President: The Prophet, The Assassins, and the Fight for American Religious Freedom by Spencer W. McBride” Peter Wosnik Now a world-wide … Read more - Open Hearts, Closed Doors: Immigration Reform and the Waning of Mainline Protestantism by Nicholas Pruitt
Open Hearts, Closed Doors: Immigration Reform and the Waning of Mainline Protestantism Nicholas Pruitt The following is a modified excerpt from Nicholas Pruitt’s Open Hearts, Closed … Read more - “The Women’s Mosque of America: Authority & Community in US Islam” by Tazeen Ali
The Women’s Mosque of America: Authority & Community in US IslamTazeen Ali The following is a modified excerpt from Tazeen Ali’s The Women’s Mosque of … Read more - “Ordinary Affects of U.S. Empire” by Candace Lukasik
Religion and US Empire: Critical New Historiesedited by Tisa Wenger and Sylvester Johnson “Ordinary Affects of U.S. Empire”, A review by Candace Lukasik “American imperialist … Read more - “Religious Diversity’s Benefit for Democracy” by Robert Wuthnow
Religious Diversity’s Benefit for DemocracyRobert Wuthnow The following is a modified except from Robert Wuthnow’s Why Religion Is Good for American Democracy (2021), out now … Read more - “Natural Rights and the First Amendment Religion Clauses” by Vincent Phillip Muñoz
Natural Rights and the First Amendment Religion ClausesVincent Phillip Muñoz The following is a modified excerpt from Vincent Phillip Muñoz’s 2022 book Religious Liberty and … Read more - “Religion: Relevant to Public Policy but Shielded from Critical Discussion?” by David A. Hollinger
Religion: Relevant to Public Policy but Shielded from Critical Discussion?David A. Hollinger This essay draws on my new book, Christianity’s American Fate: How Religion Became … Read more - “Religious Rhetoric in US Right-Wing Politics: Donald Trump, Intergroup Threat, and Nationalism” by Chiara Migliori
Religious Rhetoric in US Right-Wing Politics: Donald Trump, Intergroup Threat, and NationalismChiara Migliori This is an excerpt reprinted with permission from Religious Rhetoric in US Right-Wing … Read more - “Effective Altruism and Religion: Synergies, Tensions, Dialogue” by Dominic Roser and Stefan Riedener
Effective Altruism and Religion: Synergies, Tensions, Dialogue Dominic Roser and Stefan Riedener The following is a modified version of the introduction to Effective Altruism and … Read more - “An Excerpt from ‘Crimesploitation’” by Paul Kaplan and Daniel LaChance
Crimesploitation: Crime, Punishment, and Pleasure on Reality Televisionby Paul Kaplan and Daniel LaChance No reality television program about crime and punishment satisfied a hunger to … Read more - “Celebrating the Scholarship of Michael J. Perry” by John Witte, Jr.Celebrating the Scholarship of Michael J. Perry Forward by John Witte, Jr. The following text is an excerpt from the Emory Law Journal’s new Festschrift … Read more
- “The Creative Peace of ‘Spiritualizing Humanity,’ by Rafael Domingo Oslé & Gonzalo Rodríguez-Fraile Díaz” by Mónica García-Salmones
Spiritualizing Humanityby Rafael Domingo Oslé & Gonzalo Rodríguez-Fraile Díaz Review by Mónica García-Salmones After the spiritualism of the Middle Ages and the humanism of the … Read more - “Meatpacking America: How Migration, Work, and Faith Unite and Divide the Heartland” by Kristy Nabhan-Warren
Meatpacking America: How Migration, Work, and Faith Unite and Divide the HeartlandKristy Nabhan-Warren An excerpt reprinted with permission from Meatpacking America: How Migration, Work, and … Read more - “Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment” Introduction by John Witte, Jr., Joel A. Nichols, and Richard W. Garnett
Religion and the American Constitutional Experimentby John Witte, Jr., Joel A. Nichols, and Richard W. Garnett Thomas Jefferson once described America’s new religious freedom guarantees … Read more - “An excerpt from ‘A Complicated Choice: Making Space for Grief and Healing in the Pro-Choice Movement” by Katey Zeh
A Complicated Choice: Making Space for Grief and Healing in the Pro-Choice MovementKatey Zeh Reprinted with permission from A Complicated Choice: Making Space for Grief … Read more - “The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy” by Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry
The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracyby Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry Excerpt from The Flag and the … Read more - “Facing Apocalypse: Climate, Democracy and Other Last Chances” by Catherine Keller
Facing Apocalypse: Climate, Democracy and Other Last Chancesby Catherine Keller As the fires, floods, and droughts of climate change spiral around a planetary pandemic and … Read more - “Review of John Witte’s ‘The Blessings of Liberty’” by Nicholas Wolterstorff
The Blessings of Liberty by John Witte Reviewed by Nicholas Wolterstorff In the course of his long and distinguished career as a legal historian, John … Read more - “Protestant Globalism and Human Rights” by Gene Zubovich
Protestant Globalism and Human Rightsby Gene Zubovich Excerpt from Before the Religious Right (University of Pennsylvania Press 2022) Before the rise of the Christian Right, … Read more - “Sincerely Held: American Secularism and Its Believers” by Charles McCrary
Sincerely Held: American Secularism and Its Believers by Charles McCrary The following material is excerpted and lightly adapted from the introduction and eighth chapter of … Read more - “Harold J. Berman on the Revitalization of Criminal Law and Religion” by Peter Wosnik
“Harold J. Berman on the Revitalization of Criminal Law and Religion” Peter Wosnik The age we live in can be defined in part by its … Read more - “The Changing Terrain of Religious Freedom” by Heather J. Sharkey and Jeffrey Edward Green
The Changing Terrain of Religious Freedom edited by Heather J. Sharkey and Jeffrey Edward Green An overview by the editors What is religious freedom and … Read more - “The Religion of Secularism Reexamined” by Leigh Eric Schmidt
The Religion of Secularism Reexamined by Leigh Eric Schmidt Excerpted from The Church of Saint Thomas Paine: A Religious History of American Secularism America’s most … Read more - “Book Review: Decolonizing Human Rights by Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im” by Firas Masri
Decolonizing Human Rightsby Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im Review by Firas Masri President Joe Biden and members of his administration have constantly reiterated the position that “human … Read more - “The Business of War: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Military-Industrial Complex” by James W. McCarty, Matthew A. Tapie, and Justin Bronson Barringer
The Business of War: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Military-Industrial Complex by James W. McCarty, Matthew A. Tapie, and Justin Bronson Barringer The Business … Read more - “Caring for Aging, Dying, and Dead Prisoners: A Summary of Prison Chaplains on the Beat in US and UK Prisons” by George Walters-Sleyon, PhD.
Caring for Aging, Dying, and Dead Prisoners A Summary of Prison Chaplains on the Beat in US and UK Prisons George Walters-Sleyon, PhD. I believe … Read more - “REVIEW: Mordecai Would Not Bow Down: Antisemitism, the Holocaust, and Christian Supersessionism by Timothy Jackson” by David Blumenthal
Mordecai Would Not Bow Down: Antisemitism, the Holocaust, and Christian Supersessionismby Timothy Jackson Review by David Blumenthal Books in Protestant constructive theology are not so … Read more - “Law and the Christian Tradition in Modern Russia” Foreword by John Witte, Jr.
Law and the Christian Tradition in Modern Russiaedited by Paul Valliere and Randall A. Poole This volume is part of a 50-volume series on “Great … Read more - “A Russian Conception of Legal Consciousness” by Randall A. PooleLaw and the Christian Tradition in Modern Russia edited by Paul Valliere and Randall A. Poole This volume is part of a fifty-volume series on … Read more
- “Reading the Gita in a Global World” by Rohit Chopra
The Gita for a Global World: Ethical Action in an Age of Flux Rohit Chopra Reading the Gita in a Global World An Introduction by … Read more - “Ecce Homo: Pilate and Jesus in the History of Secularity” by David Lloyd Dusenbury
The Innocence of Pontius Pilate by David Lloyd Dusenbury An overview by the author, with parts adapted from the book, published with the permission of … Read more - “Law and Christianity in Latin America: The Work of Great Jurists” edited by M.C. Mirow and Rafael Domingo
Law and Christianity in Latin America: The Work of Great Jurists edited by M.C. Mirow and Rafael Domingo This volume is part of a fifty-volume … Read more - “Could Cohabitation Rights Solve the Issue of Unregistered Religious Marriages?” by Russell Sandberg
Could Cohabitation Rights Solve the Issue of Unregistered Religious Marriages? A Contextualizing and Summary of Religion and Marriage Law: The Need for Reform Russell Sandberg … Read more - “Moses, Jesus, and Einstein and Those Who Hate Them” by Timothy P. JacksonMoses, Jesus, and Einstein and Those Who Hate Them A Contextualizing and Summary of Mordecai Would Not Bow Down: Anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, and Christian Supersessionism … Read more
- “Preview of ‘Queer Democracy: Desire, Dysphoria, and the Body Politic’” by Daniel D. Miller
Preview of Queer Democracy: Desire, Dysphoria, and the Body PoliticDaniel D. Miller For centuries, Western thinkers have imagined society as a body. But why? Why … Read more - “Freedoms, Religion, Family, and Public Policy: A Global Perspective” by Grzegorz Blicharz
Freedoms, Religion, Family, and Public Policy: A Global PerspectiveGrzegorz Blicharz An Overview by Grzegorz Blicharz This series of books was published by the Institute of … Read more - “Australian Jurists and Christianity” by Geoff Lindsay and Wayne Hudson
Australian Jurists and ChristianityGeoff Lindsay and Wayne Hudson An Overview by Geoff Lindsay and Wayne Hudson This volume is part of a fifty-volume series on … Read more - “Human Struggle: Christian and Muslim Perspectives” by Mona Siddiqui
Human Struggle: Christian and Muslim PerspectivesMona Siddiqui In this section from chapter two of Human Struggle: Christian and Muslim Perspectives, Professor Siddiqui compares how Abu … Read more - “An EU Law on Religion – A Recent Development” by Emma Ahlm
An EU Law on Religion – A Recent DevelopmentEmma Ahlm The following post is a reworking of the conclusions drawn in Emma Ahlm’s dissertation, EU … Read more - “Extracting Our Abstractions: Why We Need a Christian Approach to Corporate Religious Liberty” by Edward A. David
A Christian Approach to Corporate Religious LibertyEdward A. David Extracting Our Abstractions: Why We Need a Christian Approach to Corporate Religious LibertyAn Introduction by Edward … Read more - “The Intellectual Property of Nations: Returning to Our Beginnings in Christian Legality” by Laura Ford
The Intellectual Property of Nations: Returning to Our Beginnings in Christian LegalityLaura Ford An Overview by Laura Ford Laura Ford’s The Intellectual Property of Nations … Read more - “A New History of the Church in Wales: Governance and Ministry, Theology and Society” by Norman Doe
A New History of the Church in Wales: Governance and Ministry, Theology and Society, edited by Norman Doe An Overview by Norman Doe This paper … Read more - “Christianity and Private Law” by John Witte, Jr.
Christianity and Private Lawedited by Robert F. Cochran, Jr. andMichael P. Moreland Review by John Witte, Jr. This volume is one of several new introductions … Read more - “Why Suffer the Children? Overcoming Christian Opposition to Children’s Rights” by John Witte, Jr.
This article is part of our “Children and Education Rights” series.If you’d like to check out other articles in this series, click here. Why Suffer the … Read more - “Tax Law, Religion, and Justice: An Exploration of Theological Reflections on Taxation” by Allen Calhoun
Tax Law, Religion, and Justice: An Exploration of Theological Reflections on TaxationAllen Calhoun An Introduction by Allen Calhoun This is an Accepted Manuscript of a … Read more - “Law and the Christian Tradition in Scandinavia” edited by Kjell Å Modéer and Helle Vogt
Law and the Christian Tradition in Scandinavia: The Writings of Great Nordic Jurists edited by Kjell Å Modéer and Helle Vogt This volume is part … Read more - “REVIEW: Church Laws and Ecumenism edited by Norman Doe” by John Witte, Jr.
Church Laws and Ecumenism: A New Path for Christian Unity edited by Norman Doe Review by John Witte, Jr. Law is the backbone of Christian … Read more - “REVIEW: The Cambridge Companion to the First Amendment and Religious Liberty” by Breidenbach and Anderson
The Cambridge Companion to the First Amendment and Religious Liberty edited by Michael D. Breidenbach and Owen Anderson Review by Lael Weinberger Religious liberty has … Read more - “Character Formation, Ethical Education, and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies” by Michael Welker and John Witte, Jr.
“Character Formation, Ethical Education, and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies” by Michael Welker and John Witte, Jr. Five hundred years ago, … Read more - “The Revolution in Freedoms of Press and Speech” by Wendell Bird
The Revolution in Freedoms of Press and Speech:From Blackstone to the First Amendment and Fox’s Libel ActWendell Bird This article is adapted from the introduction … Read more - “Great Christian Jurists in English History” edited by Mark Hill QC and Richard H. Helmholz
Great Christian Jurists in English History edited by Mark Hill QC and Richard H. Helmholz This volume is part of a fifty-volume series on “Great … Read more - “Great Christian Jurists in French History” by Olivier Descamps and Rafael Domingo
Great Christian Jurists in French History edited by Olivier Descamps and Rafael Domingo This volume is part of a fifty-volume series on “Great Christian Jurists … Read more - “The Medieval Luther” edited by Christine Helmer
The Medieval Luther edited by Christine Helmer Staging a conversation among distinguished Luther scholars, historians of Christianity, and philosophers, The Medieval Luther makes the case … Read more - “Great Christian Jurists in Spanish History” by Rafael Domingo and Javier Martínez-Torrón
Great Christian Jurists in Spanish History edited byRafael Domingo and Javier Martínez-Torrón This volume is part of a 50-volume series on “Great Christian Jurists in … Read more - “Great Christian Jurists in German History” by Mathias Schmoeckel and John Witte, Jr.
Great Christian Jurists in German HistoryMathias Schmoeckel and John Witte, Jr. This volume is part of a 50-volume series on “Great Christian Jurists in World … Read more - “Great Christian Jurists in American History” by Daniel L. Dreisbach and Mark David Hall
Great Christian Jurists in American History edited by Daniel L. Dreisbach and Mark David Hall This book is part of a 50-volume series on “Great … Read more - “Christianity and Criminal Law” An Introduction by Mark Hill QC
Christianity and Criminal Law edited by Mark Hill QC, Norman Doe, R.H. Helmholz, and John Witte, Jr. This volume is one of several new introductions to Christianity and Law commissioned … Read more - “Christianity and Global Law” edited by Rafael Domingo and John Witte, Jr.
Christianity and Global Lawedited by Rafael Domingo and John Witte Jr. This volume is one of several new introductions to Christianity and Law commissioned by … Read more - “Christianity and Criminal Law” An Overview by Lord JudgeChristianity and Criminal Law edited by Mark Hill QC, Norman Doe, R.H. Helmholz, and John Witte, Jr. This volume is one of several new introductions to Christianity and Law commissioned … Read more
- “REVIEW: Law and the Christian Tradition in Italy by Condorelli and Domingo”
Law and the Christian Tradition in Italy edited by Orazio Condorelli and Rafael Domingo Review by John Witte Jr. This volume is part of a … Read more - REVIEW: ‘Dar al-Islam Revisited: Territoriality in Contemporary Islamic Legal Discourse on Muslims in the West’ by Sarah Albrecht
Dār al-Islām Revisited: Territoriality in Contemporary Islamic Legal Discourse on Muslims in the West by Sarah Albrecht Review by David R. Blumenthal Albrecht begins her … Read more