John Witte Jr.: Religion and Law

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor John Witte, Jr., Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University.  Reflecting on his career as an historian and legal scholar,
Professor Witte explores the evolution of legal studies and the emergence of an interdisciplinary study of religion and law. Comparing the two domains, he describes the nature of each realm and the dialectic that
shapes their interaction. He then traces religion's role in securing political and civil rights in the West exploring the implications of this narrative for addressing the complexity of a multicultural world in which  many religions seek a place in the global community.  In this context, Professor Witte analyzes the role of human rights law and concludes with an analysis of the questions raised by the introduction of Sharia law into  Western courts as Muslim communities in the West assert their religious rights in Western legal systems.