Center Co-sponsors Conference on “Religious Autonomy,” May 29-30, 2009, Budapest
02 June 2009
In conjunction with Central European University, the Center is sponsoring a conference entitled “Religious Autonomy” to be held May 29-30, 2009 in Budapest, Hungary. Conference topics will focus on theological and jurisprudential perspectives on religious autonomy. The assembled experts will also discuss autonomy issues that are currently under consideration by the European Court of Human Rights, specifically, religious employment and the resolution of religious disputes. Finally, the participants will identify and discuss emerging religious autonomy issues and ... [more]
In conjunction with Central European University, the Center is sponsoring a conference entitled “Religious Autonomy” to be held May 29-30, 2009 in Budapest, Hungary. Conference topics will focus on theological and jurisprudential perspectives on religious autonomy. The assembled experts will also discuss autonomy issues that are currently under consideration by the European Court of Human Rights, specifically, religious employment and the resolution of religious disputes. Finally, the participants will identify and discuss emerging religious autonomy issues and ... [more]
Center Co-sponsors "Christianity in the East: Fostering Understanding" Conference, May 14-16, 2009
12 May 2009
Approximately thirty scholars and religious authorities, primarily from Eastern Europe and the Levant, with a few high-level experts from the diaspora communities of these denominations will meet for three days to discuss the role of religion in bringing harmony to troubled regions. Participants have immediate experience with the problem of religion in its relation to the wider context of state and society. Some, such as those in Eastern Europe before the collapse of the communist regimes, have experienced the difficulty of working with a hostile state and processes of ... [more]
Approximately thirty scholars and religious authorities, primarily from Eastern Europe and the Levant, with a few high-level experts from the diaspora communities of these denominations will meet for three days to discuss the role of religion in bringing harmony to troubled regions. Participants have immediate experience with the problem of religion in its relation to the wider context of state and society. Some, such as those in Eastern Europe before the collapse of the communist regimes, have experienced the difficulty of working with a hostile state and processes of ... [more]
Rainer O. Bless joins Center as Visiting Fellow
03 April 2009
Beginning mid-April, the Center will be joined for three months by Visiting Fellow Rainer O. Bless from Grainau, Germany.
Mr. Bless studied at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, where he specialized in public international law and law of the European Union. After his graduation, Rainer had several assignments focusing on the legal aspects of German law enforcement and international security.
He worked for several months as an assistant lawyer at the District Attorney's Office in a Special Prosecution Unit and the East Hesse Police Department's Legal and ... [more]
Beginning mid-April, the Center will be joined for three months by Visiting Fellow Rainer O. Bless from Grainau, Germany.
Mr. Bless studied at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, where he specialized in public international law and law of the European Union. After his graduation, Rainer had several assignments focusing on the legal aspects of German law enforcement and international security.
He worked for several months as an assistant lawyer at the District Attorney's Office in a Special Prosecution Unit and the East Hesse Police Department's Legal and ... [more]
Conference on "Civil Religion in the United States and Europe: Four Comparative Perspectives"
12 March 2009
The Center sponsored a conference on the topic of "Civil Religion in the United States and Europe: Four Comparative Perspectives."
The conference was held March 12-14, 2009, at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, USA.
Please click the links below for more information about this conference.
The Center sponsored a conference on the topic of "Civil Religion in the United States and Europe: Four Comparative Perspectives."
The conference was held March 12-14, 2009, at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, USA.
Please click the links below for more information about this conference.
International First Freedom Award Recognition Dinner
05 March 2009
On March 4, 2009, the Center and the family of Wayne C. Durham hosted a recognition dinner in honor of Professor W. Cole Durham, Jr., receiving the International First Freedom Award from the First Freedom Center in Richmond, Virginia. Professor Durham joins former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel, and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair in receiving this prestigious award.
"This event was intended to thank all of those who have contributed so significantly to the success of the Center. It is altogether fitting ... [more]
On March 4, 2009, the Center and the family of Wayne C. Durham hosted a recognition dinner in honor of Professor W. Cole Durham, Jr., receiving the International First Freedom Award from the First Freedom Center in Richmond, Virginia. Professor Durham joins former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel, and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair in receiving this prestigious award.
"This event was intended to thank all of those who have contributed so significantly to the success of the Center. It is altogether fitting ... [more]
Inaugural Session of Nepal Constitution Conference held
13 February 2009
The Inaugural Session of the “International Conference on the Constitution Making of Nepal” was held on February 13, 2009, in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Speakers included Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala; C.P. Mainali, General Secretary, Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) and member of the Constituent Assembly; Khim Lal Devkota, Member, United Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) and Member of the Constituent Assembly and of its Constitutional Drafting Committee; and Brijesh Kumar Gupta, Tarai Maesh Loktantric Party.
These leaders of major ... [more]
The Inaugural Session of the “International Conference on the Constitution Making of Nepal” was held on February 13, 2009, in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Speakers included Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala; C.P. Mainali, General Secretary, Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) and member of the Constituent Assembly; Khim Lal Devkota, Member, United Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) and Member of the Constituent Assembly and of its Constitutional Drafting Committee; and Brijesh Kumar Gupta, Tarai Maesh Loktantric Party.
These leaders of major ... [more]
W. Cole Durham receives International First Freedom Award
29 January 2009
W. Cole Durham, Jr., Director of ICLRS and Susa Young Gates Professor of Law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, traveled to Virginia on January 15, 2009, to accept the prestigious International First Freedom Award.
Each year, the Richmond-based First Freedom Center selects one recipient for each of three awards: the International First Freedom Award, the National First Freedom Award, and the Virginia First Freedom Award. These awards are intended to recognize the recipients’ work in advancing the freedom of conscience and belief, and basic human rights for people ... [more]
W. Cole Durham, Jr., Director of ICLRS and Susa Young Gates Professor of Law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, traveled to Virginia on January 15, 2009, to accept the prestigious International First Freedom Award.
Each year, the Richmond-based First Freedom Center selects one recipient for each of three awards: the International First Freedom Award, the National First Freedom Award, and the Virginia First Freedom Award. These awards are intended to recognize the recipients’ work in advancing the freedom of conscience and belief, and basic human rights for people ... [more]
Elizabeth Sewell joins Slovakian Academic Board
06 February 2009
Professor Elizabeth Sewell, Associate Director of ICLRS, has agreed to join the Academic Board of the Institute for State-Church Relations in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Institute functions primarily as a think-tank, studying both new religious movements and proposals that could affect church-state relations for the government of Slovakia. The Institute also contributes to the scholarly work in this field. To see the Institute’s English-language website, click here.
Upon being invited to ... [more]
Professor Elizabeth Sewell, Associate Director of ICLRS, has agreed to join the Academic Board of the Institute for State-Church Relations in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Institute functions primarily as a think-tank, studying both new religious movements and proposals that could affect church-state relations for the government of Slovakia. The Institute also contributes to the scholarly work in this field. To see the Institute’s English-language website, click here.
Upon being invited to ... [more]
Center sponsors Indonesian conference
13 January 2009
The Center recently cosponsored a conference entitled “A National Workshop on Freedom of Religion or Belief as A Human Right in Indonesia: Recognizing, Protecting and Promoting”. The conference was held December 10 – 12, 2008, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a spiritual capital of Indonesia.
Professor Robert Smith, managing director of the Center, presented one of the opening addresses; his remarks were titled “Limiting Limitations: Recognizing the Proper Scope of Religious Freedom Limitations.”
Professor Tore Lindholm, a member of the Center’s Academic ... [more]
The Center recently cosponsored a conference entitled “A National Workshop on Freedom of Religion or Belief as A Human Right in Indonesia: Recognizing, Protecting and Promoting”. The conference was held December 10 – 12, 2008, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a spiritual capital of Indonesia.
Professor Robert Smith, managing director of the Center, presented one of the opening addresses; his remarks were titled “Limiting Limitations: Recognizing the Proper Scope of Religious Freedom Limitations.”
Professor Tore Lindholm, a member of the Center’s Academic ... [more]
Colton Chair of Law and Religion Established
11 July 2008
The J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University recently established the Sterling and Eleanor Colton Chair of Law and Religion to honor the lives and contributions of Sterling and Eleanor Colton. This is the first chair established since 1992, and only the fourth endowed chair established at the law school. The endowment created by the chair will be used to benefit the work of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies. The International Center for Law and Religion Studies is actively engaged in research on the relations between governments and ... [more]