REL 19.33 Religion, Politics, and Secularism
Is it necessary to keep religion out of politics? Why do religious communities continue to be influential in the public sphere? Is secularism the best response to religion’s role in politics? This course will examine these questions through a study of religion and political secularism in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. We will take an inter-religious and comparative perspective to examine how and why religions impact political sovereignty, societies, and justice.