The course will examine the predominant global models on how law and religion interact with each other. The course is concerned with how both institutional and personal religion are accommodated by the legal world within which they exist. The issues adressed in particular will be:

• the historical development of the law of religion
• the establishment of religion by law,
• the legal position of voluntary religious bodies,
• the place of courts in religious disputes,
• the direct public financing of religions,
• discrimination law and religious bodies, and
• religious dialogue with the government and the religious provision of services to the public.

These topics will be addressed from a comparative perspective. The ultimate aim of the course is to equip students with tools to tackle critically the questions raised on the relationship between law and religion under different worldviews and various religious traditions including Judaism, Islamism and Christianity.