Human Dignity Initiative
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with an invitation to a global conversation about preserving and protecting human dignity for everyone everywhere.
Talk About: Law and Religion
Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies
Featured Conversations
Recent Posts
Religious Freedom and Peacemaking
By Knox Thames
There can be no durable peace without religious freedom. There may be the cold peace of a cessation of hostilities. However, lasting peace will not come until people can live together, recognizing the rights of their neighbors to pursue truth as their conscience leads without fear of discrimination or violence.
Religious freedom and peacemaking go hand in hand. Without religious freedom, individuals will not feel safe to talk about the drivers of conflict, which often orbit issues of religion and belief. The power of interfaith work can only be unleashed if participants know their religious view or beliefs will not trigger government prosecution or persecution from society. Honest discussions will not occur if participants must constantly look over their shoulders or withhold crucial perspectives out of fear of reprisal.
The workshop (webinar) will discuss legal aspects of Ukraine’s recent law No 3894 banning the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and religious organizations affiliated with the ROC. The workshop will consist of six units each of which starts with two short inputs (5 minutes), then 20 minutes moderated discussion. After three units, there will be a 20 minutes break.
Date/Time: October 29, 2024, 11am – 2:30pm EST / 4pm – 7:30pm CET (Zoom)
In Episode 3 of The FoRB Podcast, Dmytro Vovk and Merilin Kiviorg invite Catherine Wanner and Thomas Bremer to discuss the Russian world (Russky mir)—a narrative utilized by the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox Church to justify Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine and to portray Russia as an “anti-Western civilization.” They touch on the ideological origins and content of the Russia world, the Russian Church’s involvement in the war, political and legal responses to the Russky mir narrative by Russia’s neighboring states (Ukraine and Estonia), and debates over these issue in the United States and Europe.
On Capitol Hill, the seat of the U.S. Congress, 22 relief portrait plaques are installed above the gallery doors of the House Chamber. These plaques, collectively known as the Lawgivers, depict figures noted for their foundational contributions to the principles underlying the concept of law. Among these figures are Hammurabi, Justinian, and Solon, lawgivers whose ideas shaped legal thought across civilizations. However, one figure among these lawgivers stands distinctively apart—Moses. Unlike the others, Moses is not depicted in profile but is shown in full face, gazing outward from the center of the north wall, directly opposite the Speaker’s seat. His position is symbolic; it reflects the profound and enduring impact of his teachings on concepts of justice, law, and governance.
Search Topics in Law and Religion
Explore topics such as COVID-19, Gender, Jewish Law, LGBTI+, Marriage, Religious Exemption, and Security
Anti-Extremism | Assisted Dying | Autocephaly | Children | Church-State Relations | Constitutional Space | COVID-19 | Death Penalty | Definition of Religion | Digitalization | Discrimination | Equality | Extremism | Family | Family Law | Freedom of Expression | Gender | Genocide | Hagia Sophia | Human Dignity | Human Rights | In Memoriam | Interfaith Dialogue | Islamic Law | Jewish Law | LGBTI+ | Marriage | Minorities | Peacebuilding | Pluralism | Politics | Race | Reasonable Accommodation | Religious Autonomy | Religious Exemption | Religious Freedom | Religious Institutions | Religious Law | Rule of Law | Secularity | Security | Social Service | Ukraine | Russia | War | Digitalization | Humanitarian Aid | Religion and Constitution
Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter
Fill out the form below to receive updates on topics in law and religion.