The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law will host a symposium focused on religious rights, counter-terrorism and national security on October 23. The half-day event — based on Professor Amos N. Guiora’s new book Freedom from Religion: Rights and National Security — will feature College of Law faculty and guests exploring the issue and asking whether the threat of new terrorist attacks might be reduced by curtailing religious extremism.
According to Guiora, Freedom From Religion invites policymakers and concerned citizens to consider addressing the threat of terrorist attacks by curtailing religious freedom. Guiora explores the different policies and challenges in five countries—the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, Turkey, and Israel—and draws on an advisory board made up of scholars from all five of the countries under review. He notes that “The conference represents an extraordinary opportunity to address these issues — frankly and candidly— with a unique group of scholars and a distinguished Presbyterian clergyman.”
In addition to Guiora, participants will include Scott Matheson, a Professor of Law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law; William Deal, Severance Professor of the History of Religion and Professor of Cognitive Science, Case Western Reserve University; and Pastor John Lentz, Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Terry Kogan, also a Professor at the College of Law, will moderate.
The half-day symposium will also be available to off-site participants who wish to view the discussion, tweet, send symposium-related questions, and participate in an on-line forum on the issues under discussion. The URL for the live event dashboard will be available soon.