Welcome to CSLR
Founded in 1982, CSLR at Emory University is the premier center for the study of law and religion. We have published more than 350 books, convened scores of interdisciplinary conferences, and offer six joint-degree programs.
The mission of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion is to produce and promote path-breaking scholarship, teaching, and public programs on the interaction of law and religion around the world.
Beekeeping on the Sussex Downs: Philip Reynolds Reflects on Retirement, Happiness, and Echo Chambers
In the Fall of 2021, Dr. Philip L. Reynolds – a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Medieval Christianity, and Aquinas Professor of Historical Theology at Candler School of Theology – retired. For almost four decades, Reynolds has taught and published extensively in the field of historical theology. CSLR recently asked Dr. Reynolds to reflect on his career and life as a scholar. What led him to the field of historical theology? What did he learn along the way? What advice does he have for scholars who are at the early stages of their careers? Reynolds – who plans to devote his retirement to writing, gardening, and exploring rural landscapes in his native England – responded with characteristic insight, erudition, and wit.
The CSLR Study on Law and Ministry
Ministry is hard. From preaching, teaching, and counseling to managing the finances, maintenance, and daily operations of a church, Christian leaders play many roles in their communities. Yet few faith leaders are trained to handle the legal issues that impact nearly everything they do, from hiring employees to dealing with taxes, property disputes, financial oversight, religious schools, and more.
The CSLR Study on Law and Ministry in the United States is conducting a nationwide survey to learn how church leaders experience and address common legal issues affecting their ministries. We are listening to people around the country to hear how state, local, and federal laws affect Christian organizations and ministries on a day-to-day basis.
Are you a pastor, lay leader, church officer, board member, or other leader of Christian ministry?
A Conversation with Jeffrey B. Hammond
We sat down with Jeffrey B. Hammond to learn more about his time at CSLR and his advice for current students. 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. Professor Hammond is an Associate Professor of Law at the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University. His research interests include law and religion, especially Christian theological intersections with Anglo-American law and Free Exercise and Establishment Clause theory, health law, and law and bioethics, especially end-of-life issues.
Video Spotlight: Allen Calhoun | Tax Law, Religion, and Justice
CSLR sat down with Dr. Allen Calhoun to talk about his newest book: "Tax Law, Religion, and Justice: An Exploration of Theological Reflections on Taxation."
Remembering Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
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.