By BJC Staff Reports
On April 1-2, Michael I. Meyerson will deliver the 9th annual Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. A professor of law and Piper & Marbury Faculty Fellow at the University of Baltimore, Meyerson is a leading expert in constitutional law and American legal history. His books include Endowed by Our Creator: The Birth of Religious Freedom in America and Liberty’s Blueprint: How Madison and Hamilton Wrote The Federalist Papers, Defined the Constitution, and Made Democracy Safe for the World. His website, MichaelMeyerson.com, has more on his work and career.
As he prepares for the upcoming lectures, Meyerson took time to preview this year’s event and discuss the state of religious liberty.
Why have you dedicated your career to constitutional law and First Amendment issues?
I think the promise of America is so great, and in order for this promise to be fulfilled, we must understand the history of, and reasons for, our fundamental freedoms. We need this knowledge both so we can realize our own potential and respect the desires of others to do the same.
What is your take on the current state of religious liberty in America?
The state of religious liberty here is surprisingly strong. Most of our battles about religion are on the edges, rather than the heart, of religious liberty. The government is not locking up religious minorities and atheists and it is not imposing or even encouraging a particular creed or practice. It’s not that the questions we face at this moment are not serious. Rather, my point is that if you contrast America with many other countries, you realize that the vast majority of Americans really do agree on the fundamentals of religious freedom.
What do you see as the greatest threat to religious liberty in the United States today?
In my opinion, the greatest threat to religious liberty is the seeming inability of the opposing sides in the debate on religious freedom to respect the opinions and values of the others. The worst thing would be for either side to prevail without appreciating the wisdom of those with whom they disagree.
Why is understanding the history of the First Amendment and the separation of church and state so important?
In part, it’s because we should understand that religious freedom is part of the American legacy. Those who founded our constitutional system appreciated the concept of liberty of conscience better than many nations do today. The Framers, including George Washington, also understood that in order for there to be true freedom of religion, the government needs to play only a very limited and carefully non-denominational role, and to ensure that every single person’s rights are fully protected.
What drew you to the Shurden Lectures?
The Shurden Lectures are one of the most important sources for discussion of issues of religious freedom in America today. I am flattered that I was invited to continue the tradition of exploring this most critical and controversial question with honesty and respect for opposing viewpoints.
What do you want the audience to take away from your presentations?
I want people to learn that the Framers understood that religion could be a source of both incredible good and unspeakable evil. It could either divide or unite a society. I hope people realize that the balance the Framers strove to reach is remarkably similar to that which we are striving for today.
2014 Shurden Lectures
Baylor University in Waco, Texas
All events are free and open to the public
April 1 at 11 a.m.
J. Brent Walker preaches in the worship service at the Paul W. Powell Chapel at Truett Theological Seminary
April 1 at 3:30 p.m.
Lecture 1: The False Divide: Religious Support for Separation of Church and State
Draper Academic Building, Room 172
Hosted by the Baylor University Department of Religion
April 2 at 2:15 p.m.
Lecture 2: Freedom of Religion: The Framers’ Extraordinary Compromise
Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center, Room 122
Hosted by Baylor Law School
For more information, visit BJConline.org/lectures
From the February 2014 Report from the Capital. Click here for the next article.
