This course introduces students to the tradition of federal jurisprudence on religion and religious freedom, especially regarding the two religion clauses of the First Amendment. By the end of the course, students should be able to understand recent developments in religious freedom law
in historical context and develop well-informed arguments about the contemporary politics of religious freedom. Most readings will be primary sources, supplemented by short pieces of scholarly analysis. Students’ work will be evaluated according to their ability to synthesize specific information and use it to make arguments. There will be short quizzes and short papers, as well as one longer paper on a case (or cases) of their choice. Participation is a major component of evaluation.