Law and Religion in Africa: The Quest for the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies

The Second Conference on Law and Religion in Africa was held at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) from 26 to 28 May 2014. Some 60 scholars, legal professionals, and religious leaders from 15 countries particpated in this conference, focusing on the theme  “Law and Religion in Africa: The Quest for the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies.” Published papers from the First Conference on Law and Religion in Africa, “Comparative Practices, Experiences, and Prospects”—which was held in Legon, Ghana, in 2013—were made available, and the new African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS) was officially launched on the last day of the conference.

The conference was opened on Monday with welcome addresses by conference organizers Pieter Coertzen and W. Cole Durham, Jr.  Monday closed with a Conference Reception featuring a keynote address by Justice Albie Sachs, Emeritus Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. An additional keynote address was given by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng of the South African Constitutional Court. Concluding remarks on Wednesday afternoon were given by Rik Torfs, Rector of the University of Leuven.

Presenters at the conference addressed the following general topics:

  • Philosophy, Law, and Religion 
  • Islam and the Law
  • Theology and Law
  • African Traditional Religion
  • Tradition, Law, and Marriage
  • Religion, State, and Society
  • Religious Intolerance / Persecution
  • Law and Religion in Africa
  • Law, Religion, and Social Problems
  • Marriage, Women, Children, and Education
  • Law and Religion & Registration of Religions
  • Registration of Religions in Africa
  • Panel: Law and Religion / Religion and Constitution / Freedom of Religion

The Conference was Sponsored by:

  • Stellenbosch University Faculty of Law and Faculty of Theology (Unit for the Study of Law and Religion, Beyers Naudé Center for Public Theology), South Africa
  • The International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States
  • The International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (Milan)
  • Catholic University of Leuven, Netherlands
  • Juta & Company (Publishers and Booksellers)