Items included for this subject area come from a variety of sources. The perspectives conveyed may or may not express a Lutheran ethos. They can serve our instruction as discussion-starters, examples (positive and negative), and illustrations of intersections between God’s two kingdoms, intersections sometimes characterized by tension, sometimes by congruence. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Even conservatives can differ on religious freedom: Professor Robert George and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks discuss different perspectives on sustaining both religious freedom and civil rights and how the U.S. and Europe are not the same. “They both agree that freedom for any religion is best served by the generalised principle of freedom for all beliefs. But […]
SCOTUS for Students: The Supreme Court’s Contraceptive-Mandate Cases — If you have followed developments in the Supreme Court’s contraceptive-mandate cases, you may be scratching your head, wondering what’s going on. You are not alone. Even seasoned Court watchers are somewhat surprised and mystified by the challenge the Justices now face to sort out a complex morass […]
Our Shared Brokenness: This review of the best seller, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (Spiegel and Grau, 2015), introduces the reader to the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need. The book takes its epigraph from Reinhold Niebuhr: “Love is […]
Citizenship test change admits freedom of religion, not just worship: “The First Amendment protects the rights of freedom of expression, speech, assembly, and religion, as well as the right to petition the government. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an office under the DHS, changed ‘religion’ to ‘worship’ eight years ago to be more ‘inclusive’ […]
Did Catholic theologians influence the Zubik order? Lyle Denniston, long-time reporter and commentator on the Supreme Court, offers this analysis of the problem of complicity in sin. Is the fire wall proposed between religious conscience and compelling government interest in health care “thick enough to meet the religious protest, and is the government going to be […]
Against Martyrdom: A Liberal Argument for Accommodation of Religion: (Note: one pdf download allowed from the link.) Religious accommodation is going through a period of heated contestation in multiple arenas: in the courts, in the academy, and in public and political debate. Liberals have adopted a position that is much more critical of religious accommodation as such. To slow or […]
Reasoning badly and reasoning well: A primer on practical reasoning — There are two difficulties. One lies in the intellect, because students may not know how to reason well. The other lies in the will, because they may not want to. Those who do want to reason well can be taught how to do so, although […]
Freedom of Conscience and New LGBT Rights in International Human Rights Law: This position essay argues, “Only when human rights are grounded in transcendent, fixed authority can they stand the test of time and shifts in power. If LGBT policies are elevated above freedom of conscience, it will be to the detriment of all human rights. […]
Is God Dead? A TIME Cover Turns 50: In April 1966, fifty years ago, Time magazine published its famously controversial cover story, “Is God Dead?” This analysis article covers the background of that story, the issues that prompted it, and where may be fifty years later. Could serve as an intro to Nietzsche, the spiritual-but-not-religious […]
Corporate America’s embrace of gay rights has reached a stunning tipping point: This Washington Post analysis piece on corporate business interests and gay rights may be of interest. Students can consider its content, conclusion, and implications, and if the headline is congruent with the content. Whether this current trend in business contributes to further polarization […]
