Law, Religion, and Democracy

This course examines the relationship between law, religion, and democracy in comparative and international perspective. It introduces the historical and theoretical foundations of religious freedom and explores contemporary legal controversies involving the governance of religious diversity in liberal democracies. Topics include the philosophical and religious roots of toleration, the development of legal protections for freedom of religion, and the role of secularism in both protecting and limiting religious expression. The course also examines conflicts between freedom of religion and other rights and the ways courts and political institutions respond to these tensions. Particular attention will be paid to the Canadian context, including the multiculturalism framework and legal questions surrounding Indigenous spiritual traditions and the protection of sacred practices and sites. The course concludes by considering emerging challenges to religious freedom in the digital age, including the implications of artificial intelligence and new technologies for religious practice, belief, and governance.