Restoring Religious Freedom Conference: 2017
The 2017 Restoring Religious Freedom Conference: Law, Religion, Equality, and Dignity drew scholars from around the globe to discuss religious freedom from different perspectives. The conference opened with a conversation between W. Cole Durham, Jr., Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law at Brigham Young University, and Ján Figeľ, EU Special Envy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, on "A Century of Genocides: Is Better Acommodation of Conscience an Answer?"
The second day included opening remarks from Peter Kmec: Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the United States on "Slovak EU Presidency in the Context of Law, Religion, Equality and Dignity," followed by panels and a keynote address from Douglas Laycock, Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor of Law, Class of 1963 Research Professor in Honor of Graham C. Lilly, and Peter W. Low Professor of Religious Studies at University of Virginia.
The conference is part of the Restoring Religious Freedom Project and funded by an anonymous gift.
W. Cole Durham and Ján Figel': A Century of Genocides: Is Better Accommodation of Conscience and Answer?
International Perspectives on Equality and Dignity
Peter Kmec, Slovak Ambassador to the United States Slovak, gives opening remarks, followed by a panel with Mark Hill, Honorary Professor, Cardiff Law School, United Kingdom; Avishalom Westreich, Associate Professor, College of Law and Business, Ramat Gan, Israel; Andrea Pin, Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Padova, Italy; and Sayali Bapat, SJD candidate, Emory University School of Law. Mark Goldfeder moderates.
Religious Perspectives on Equality and Dignity
Silas Allard moderates a panel featuring Chaim Saiman, Professor of Law, Villanova University; Rafael Domingo, Francisco de Vitoria Fellow, Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University; Bandar Bakhashwin, SJD Candidate, Emory University School of Law; and Faizat Badmus-Busari, SJD Candidate, Emory University School of Law.
Alternative Approaches to Accommodation
Michael Helfand, Associate Professor of Law and Associate Director, Diane and Guilford Glazer Institute for Jewish Studies, Pepperdine University; Michael Broyde, Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law; and Steve Collis, Chair, Hollis & Hart Religious Institutions and First Amendment practice group discuss alternative approaches to accommodation, with John Witte, Jr. moderating.
Accommodating Fundamental Rights
Frank Ravitch, Professor of Law and Water H. Stowers Chair of Law and Religion, Michigan State University; and John Corvino, Department of Philosophy, Chair, Wayne State University, discuss accomodation of fundamental rights, with Daniel Frost, Assistant Professor, College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences at Clemson University as moderator.