Center for the Study of Law and Religion |

This interview is part of a new series of discussions with distinguished CSLR alumni working at the intersections of law and religion in academic, legal, and religious professions

Dr. Rahimjon Abdugafurov is a postdoctoral fellow in Islamic legal studies at CSLR, where he serves as a senior lecturer and deputy director of the Law and Islam program. Abdugafurov speaks seven languages and received his PhD from Emory’s Islamic Civilizations Studies Program with an additional certificate in Jewish Studies from the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies. He co-produced a documentary film entitled, “Bukharan Jews: Memories of a Disappearing Past,” and has published articles on Sufism, Islamic law, and Central Asian studies.

The Center for the Study of Law and Religion is mourning the loss of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948-2020). Rabbi Sacks was a prominent figure and a widely respected leader in the religious world. As an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, he was a prominent voice on questions of modern religion, morality, and religious inclusivity. His many contributions to the literature on Jewish law and religion include his 2014 article in the Journal of Law and Religion where he discussed the notion of happiness from a Jewish perspective. In 2010, he joined a panel of Jewish leaders at CSLR to talk about happiness and the Jewish tradition. You can watch his full remarks below.

As part of a new series of discussions with distinguished alumni working at the intersections of law and religion in academic, legal, and religious professions, CSLR Alumna Dr. Roslyn Satchel reflects on critical engagement with the real world and real people.

“Already as a student in our Center Roslyn Satchel made bold and prescient contributions to a better understanding of law, religion, and racial justice both at home and abroad,” CSLR Director John Witte, Jr. says. “It’s wonderful to see her marvelous work on these themes continue to expand to the edification of us all.”

"In general, my scholarship examines the ideological implications of legal, media, and religious discourse with a particular interest in issues of race, gender, class, ability, age, ethnicity, status, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation. My JD and MDiv from Emory availed me of countless professional opportunities, but more important were the critical thinking and research skills, questions, concepts, epistemologies, laws, and ethics learned during my experience as a CSLR student." – CSLR Alumna Dr. Rosyln Satchel

On October 15th, 2020, CSLR Senior Editor Dr. Gary S. Hauk received the "Excellence in Research Using the Holdings of an Archive" award by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council for his new book Emory as Place: Meaning in A University Landscape.

Gary has been a pillar of the Emory community for thirty years and is the university’s renowned Historian Emeritus. He is senior editorial consultant at CSLR and a longtime board member and officer of Georgia Humanities. In addition to his most recent, award-winning, book — Emory as Place: Meaning in A University Landscape — Gary is the author of A Legacy of Heart and Mind: Emory since 1836 and Religion and Reason Joined: Candler at One Hundred. 

The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) was created in 1993 to ensure that Georgians of all ages are made aware of the significant historical records located statewide, enhances the preservation and care of these treasures, and improves the access that Georgians have to their records.

The Center for the Study of Law and Religion is delighted to announce that Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im has been selected as a “Great Immigrant” by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. An-Na’im is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law, and Director of CSLR’s program in Law and Islam.

Each year, the Carnegie Corporation recognizes extraordinary immigrants from around the world who have “made notable contributions to the progress of American society.”

The Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University is proud to welcome the latest Woodruff Fellow and JD/MTS joint degree student, Mr. Eric Wang.  A summa cum laude graduate from Princeton University, Eric is currently pursuing a Master of Theological Studies degree at Candler School of Theology. He will join CSLR and the Law School in the fall to pursue his JD.

Michael J. Broyde sat down on March 18, 2020 to discuss public health and the Jewish tradition in the midst of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, he discusses the relationship between public health experts and religious authorities, the difference between one's duties to self and community, and what the Jewish tradition can offer in times of public health emergencies.

Alonzo McDonald 48C, a longtime friend and generous benefactor of Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion (CSLR) has passed away, on Nov. 21, 2019. He was 91. “The world has lost one of its great leaders of church, state, society, and economy,” Witte said. “We join his extended family and global network of friends both in mourning Al McDonald’s death and in celebrating his remarkable life of faith and works. We will sorely miss his deep wisdom, generosity, tenacity, discipline, and integrity – and his incisive and insightful questions at our conferences. The saints in heaven have just met their match.”