POL 390J: Topics in Political Science

Course Description

Topic: Freedom of Religion in America. This course is designed to explore a variety of historical and contemporary issues dealing with freedom of religion as guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Special attention will be given to the landmark decisions of the Supreme Court interpreting the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment and the legal and political controversies raised by these decisions. The course is designed to lead to a greater understanding of the symbiotic relationship between religion and politics, the importance of religious liberty to democracy, and the inevitable tensions between religious groups, and between church and state in a free society.