Interactions

In this episode we speak with Dr. Mark Storslee about his work on History and the school prayer cases. Mark Storslee is an Associate Professor of Law and McDonald Distinguished Fellow at Emory Law School. He holds many degrees, including a JD from Stanford Law School and a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. Storslee’s article, History and the School Prayer Cases was recently published in the Virginia Law Review and examines the Supreme Court’s rulings that prohibit state-sponsored prayer in public schools under the Establishment Clause, despite opt-outs for dissenters. In this episode, Whittney Barth and John Bernau join Mark to dive deeper into the history of these cases and talk about their implications for today's broader debates about government-sponsored prayer. https://virginialawreview.org/articles/history-and-the-school-prayer-cases/ https://law.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/storslee-profile.html

In this episode we speak Ariel Liberman, a legal scholar whose work touches on education through an interdisciplinary perspective, as well as inter-religious engagement and legal theory. Dr. Liberman has an SJD from Emory Law School, and currently serves as the Paul and Marion Kuntz Scholar in Law and Religion, the Director of Undergraduate Outreach and Engagement, and the Managing Editor of Canopy Forum. In January 2025, Liberman will join the Department of Political Science at Auburn University as Assistant Professor in Law and Legal Studies. In this episode, John Bernau and Whitney Barth, join Dr. Liberman to discuss his current book project on civic education, what we can learn from the Jewish tradition, effecting change in the political system, and his reflections on the effects of legal education for undergraduate students.

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Alexa Windsor, a legal scholar and educator whose work focuses on the intersections of law and religion, contract law, and arbitration, especially in relation to gender and sexuality. Alexa Windsor is currently completing her SJD at Emory University School of Law. She has dedicated her research to exploring how contract law principles can be adapted for alternative dispute resolution in faith-based communities and for LGBTQ individuals. Her work brings fresh perspectives on religious freedom and inclusivity within legal frameworks. In this episode, we’ll discuss Alexa’s motivation to research these areas, her insights on the role of contract law in resolving conflicts within diverse communities, and her vision for inclusive legal practices.

In this season of Interactions, Whitney Barth and John Bernau engage with contemporary voices in the field to discuss recent works in law and religion. Today’s guest is Dr. Thomas Jared Farmer, the McDonald Scholar in residence at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. In this episode, Dr. Farmer talks about his motivation to write a biography about Gianni Vattimo, and the importance of Vattimo's contributions to modern western philosophical thought. This podcast is produced by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University in collaboration with Canopy Forum. Thomas Jared Farmer Faculty Page Center for the Study of Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA Canopy Forum

In this season of Interactions, Terri Montague, and Brandon Paradise, engage with contemporary leaders and social change agents regarding the influence and convergence of Christianity, the law, and racial justice. Today’s guest is Reverend Bernice King, the daughter of Corretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr, a social activist in her own right and regularly speaks truth to power. Additionally, as the CEO of the King Center, Dr. King teaches the principles of nonviolent resistance, honors and shares her father’s legacy, and protects against its misuse. This podcast is produced by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University in collaboration with Canopy Forum. Bernice King: The King Center Center for the Study of Law and Religion: Center for the Study of Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA Canopy Forum: Canopy Forum

In this season of Interactions, Terri Montague, and Brandon Paradise, engage with contemporary leaders and social change agents regarding the influence and convergence of Christianity, the law, and racial justice. Today’s guest is Reverend Bernice King, the daughter of Corretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr, a social activist in her own right and regularly speaks truth to power. Additionally, as the CEO of the King Center, Dr. King teaches the principles of nonviolent resistance, honors and shares her father’s legacy, and protects against its misuse. This podcast is produced by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University in collaboration with Canopy Forum. Bernice King: The King Center Center for the Study of Law and Religion: Center for the Study of Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA Canopy Forum: Canopy Forum

In this season of Interactions, Terri Montague, and Brandon Paradise, engage with contemporary leaders and social change agents regarding the influence and convergence of Christianity, the law, and racial justice. Today’s guest is Reverend Doctor Kelly Brown Douglas, the Canon Theologian at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, author of several books, and the president of Episcopal Divinity School. Douglas is also a leading scholar of womanist theology, social justice, sexuality, and the Black Church, as well as racial reconciliation. This podcast is produced by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University in collaboration with Canopy Forum. Kelly Brown Douglas: Episcopal Divinity School Center for the Study of Law and Religion: Center for the Study of Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA Canopy Forum: Canopy Forum

In this season of Interactions, Terri Montague, and Brandon Paradise, engage with contemporary leaders and social change agents regarding the influence and convergence of Christianity, the law, and racial justice. Today’s guest is Reverend Doctor Kelly Brown Douglas, the Canon Theologian at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, author of several books, and the president of Episcopal Divinity School. Douglas is also a leading scholar of womanist theology, social justice, sexuality, and the Black Church, as well as racial reconciliation. This podcast is produced by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University in collaboration with Canopy Forum. Kelly Brown Douglas: Episcopal Divinity School Center for the Study of Law and Religion: Center for the Study of Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA Canopy Forum: Canopy Forum

In this season of Interactions, Terri Montague and Brandon Paradise, engage with contemporary leaders and social change agents regarding the influence and convergence of Christianity, the law, and racial justice. Today’s guest is Bryan Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama, and the author of the 2014 memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.This book was adapted for film in 2019 and features Michael B Jordan. Stevenson is also the creator of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, and a winner of a MacArthur Genius Grant. This podcast is produced by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University in collaboration with Canopy Forum. ‌ Bryan Stevenson: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Center for the Study of Law and Religion: Center for the Study of Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA Canopy Forum: Canopy Forum

In this episode, we hear from Matthew P. Cavedon, the Robert Pool Fellow in Law and Religion at Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion, and a Senior Lecturer at Emory Law School. His recent book, “From the Pope's Hands to Indigenous Lands: Alexander VI in Spanish Imperialism,” explores the historical impact of "inter caetera"– a papal bull issued in 1493 with wide-ranging influence on Spanish Christendom and the Catholic Church's stronghold on the New World at the cusp of modern imperialism. The book seeks to shed light on the influence of notable clergymen and social reformers, including Bartolomé de Las Casas, and their efforts to advocate for indigenous rights. Matt’s work meticulously contextualizes these contested stories and sheds light on the nuance of lived experience under Spanish Imperialism. From the Pope’s Hand to Indigenous Lands: From the Pope’s Hand to Indigenous Lands Matthew P. Cavedon faculty page:Robert Pool Fellow in Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA CSLR Website:Center for the Study of Law and Religion | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA

Today’s guest is John Witte, Jr. — Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law, McDonald Distinguished Professor of Religion, and Faculty Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. A specialist in Legal History, Human Rights, Religious Freedom, Marriage and Family Law, and Law and Religion, he has published more than 300 articles, 19 journal symposia, and 45 books. As the latest addition to this large body of work, Witte’s new book —Table Talks—is a collection of short reflections on what he calls “the weightier matters of law and religion.” It was published Open Access through Brill Academic Press earlier this year and is intended for both law students and the broader public. In this conversation, we talk with John about the inspiration for the book, his advice for students, and the role of academics in public discourse, among other topics. Table Talks (Open Access): https://brill.com/display/title/64126 John Witte, Jr. faculty page: https://law.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/witte-profile.html John Witte, Jr. website: https://www.johnwittejr.com/ CSLR Website: https://cslr.law.emory.edu/

Welcome to the Interactions podcast — brought to you by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. Now in its 40th year, our Center explores the interactions of law and religion through research and scholarship, teaching and training, and public programs. This season of the podcast explores recent scholarship in law and religion from members of the Center community. This podcast is produced by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University and in collaboration with canopyforum.org. Today’s guest is Deepa Das Acevedo, Associate Professor of Law at Emory University. In this episode, we talk about her forthcoming book from Oxford University Press, “The Battle for Sabarimala: Religion, Law, and Gender in Contemporary India.” The book tells the complex and ongoing story of the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, India —–a site of heated dispute over gender equality, religious freedom, and religion-state relations. Drawing on more than a decade’s worth of research, the book delves into the intersection of anthropology and law, providing innovative solutions that effectively navigate the intricate legal landscape of the temple, while also contextualizing it within the larger framework of Indian and constitutional law. In this conversation, we cover a lot of ground, including the background and historical importance of the Sabarimala Temple, why recent disputes can be considered a turning point for the Indian judiciary, and the relationship between anthropology and law.

In this episode, we hear from Michael Broyde, a law professor at Emory Law School,  and Berman Projects director at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion.  Recently, Professor Broyde has turned his scholarly attention to the potential impacts of artificial intelligence on law and religion.  He and the Center’s Executive Director Whittney Barth have convened a working group on law, religion, and AI, that includes faculty from institutions around the world. The Center is also involved in two scholarly publishing projects related to law, religion, and AI. One is a symposium issue of the Journal of Law and Religion, published by Cambridge University Press, and the other is a special issue of the journal LAWS, published by MDPI with Michael Broyde and Whittney Barth as co-editors. You can visit the Center’s website for more information. In a Work in Progress session at the Center, Professor Broyde shared his most recent work: “AI and Jewish Law: Seeing How ChatGPT 4.0 Looks at a Novel Issue.” During the talk, he explores the translation capabilities of Chat GPT 4.0 from Hebrew to English, how well Chat GPT 4.0 analyzed a novel issue for Jewish Law when prompted with a curated set of sources, and some of the implications of this and future technological developments for Jewish Law as well as for the American federal courts. After his remarks, we will hear from a few audience members as the floor opens for a wider discussion of the implications of this research. 

In a special episode of the Interactions podcast, Whittney Barth and John Bernau sat down to discuss some of the report's main findings with three distinguished guests: Rev. Dr. Ted Smith, Rev. Caroline Maggee, and Rev. Ingrid McIntyre. While our guests were not involved in the study, we brought them in to talk about three themes that emerged from the study, including the nature of theological education, the role of a pastor versus the role of a lawyer, and ministers’ interactions with government. CSLR would like to thank the Lilly Endowment, Inc., for their generous support of the Center’s law and ministry study. Our executive producer is Eythen Anthony. Our theme music is “Elevator Pitch” by Shane Ivers from silvermansound.com. To learn more about Center for the Study of Law and Religion and the study on law and ministry, please visit cslr.law.emory.edu

There are few figures so engrained in pop culture and world history like Muhammad Ali. Along with being one of the best professional heavyweight boxers in history, Ali was a civil rights and anti-war activist, a follower of the Nation of Islam, later converting to Sunni Islam, an author, and an artist.  Beyond these titles though, Muhammad Ali stands as this almost mythological figure; a symbol, supported by all the literature, films, theater, and artwork that exemplifies his life and impact. It’s like Muhammad Ali always said, “I am the greatest.”  In our finale, Matt Cavedon and Ira Bedzow speak with Cooper Harriss of Indiana University. Harriss is an associate professor in religious studies and an adjunct professor in comparative literature, folklore, and ethnomusicology. His research focuses on the relationship between religion and major cultural figures in American history, and how they defined the culture then as well as today. Harriss has written about Ralph Ellison, Kurt Vonnegut, Nat Turner, Zora Neale Hurston, and Muhammad Ali.  In his essay, “On the Abroad of a Different Home: Muhammad Ali in Micro-Scope,” Harriss uses the history of the athlete, as well as how his life is represented in media, to explore how the selectiveness of identity can paint specific pictures of an individual. The three begin by discussing why Harriss chose to write about Ali, explaining how Ali acts as a symbol for post-war American religion. The conversation then shifts into the art meant to illustrate the life of Ali, from work that highlights a certain span of time, such as all the film biopics that follow Ali between 1964-1974, to work that focuses on a specific moment, such as in Will Power’s play Fetch Clay, Make Man. And along with discussions of how white popular memory and black popular memory remember Ali, as well as the ways “irony” and “double cross” relate to the athlete, the three consider the question: How do we explain our identity, or is there no such thing; only perception? Listen today!

Imagine this scenario: There’s an American who’s part of a congregation of a Protestant church. While attending church, this American enters a discussion with a few leaders of that church about the meaning behind a certain scripture. This discussion develops into a disagreement and this disagreement results in the American being excommunicated from the church with little to no opportunity to defend his position within the congregation. With all this information in mind, I ask do you think this is fair? Or, does the American deserve due process within the church, and, if so, why? Why is it expected, specifically in an American context, that religious law follows the same procedures as secular law? It’s this scenario and this final question that form the backbone of “The Rule of Law,” an essay part of the collection, At Home and Abroad, written by Winnifred Fallers Sullivan. In today’s episode, Matt and Ira speak with Sullivan, provost professor in religious studies at Indiana University, where she teaches courses on religion, law, and the politics of religious freedom, among other topics. Sullivan is the author of many books, including four that analyze legal discourses about religion. She’s also the co-editor of At Home and Abroad. Her essay, “The Rule of Law,” explores the ways that religious law and secular law overlap and diverge in an American setting. Sullivan uses the experience of one of her former students, who sought due process after being excommunicated from the church, to set the scene for the essay. Along with examining the mindset of this student, the three discuss the beginnings of American legal history, the complexity surrounding the term “fundamentalism,” and the benefits of categorizing the political and the religious. Listen today!

In today’s episode, Matt and Ira speak with Greg Johnson, Professor in the department of religious studies at UC Santa Barbara and director of the Walter H. Capps Center for the study of Ethics, Religion and Public Life. His essay “Domestic Bones, Foreign Land, and the Kingdom Come: Jurisdictions of Religion in Contemporary Hawaii” explores the legal efforts of Native Hawaiians in repossessing land and human remains and its connection to religion and spirituality. The three begin discussing Johnson’s experience as a delegate a part of a team of experts retrieving iwi kupuna, the bones and skulls of Native Hawaiians, from the Dresden Museum of Ethnology. The conversation shifts to discussing the ways Native Hawaiians maneuver around legal jurisdictions, a term that Johnson refers to as “auto-jurisdiction.” Finally, they highlight the United States’ perception of Native Hawaiians and the continued search for land reclamation. All this and more on today’s episode of Interactions.

Welcome back to Interactions, a podcast about law and religion, and how they interact in the world around us. On March 2nd, 2021, Columbia University Press released the book At Home and Abroad: The Politics of American Religion. Edited by Elizabeth Shakman Hurd and Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, this collection of fifteen essays explores the ways religion connects with law and politics on topics ranging from religion in Hawaii to the culture of Yoga. With reviews describing the book as “a profound and inspiring volume [that] turns American religion inside out,” At Home and Abroad is an engaging collection that is incredibly relevant today. And it is this relevance that inspired us to dive deeper into the topics of this book. Over the next few months, we’ll be exploring and discussing the importance of these chapters with the people who are most knowledgeable of the subject: the authors themselves. In our first episode, Matt Cavedon and Ira Bedzow speak with Sarah Imhoff, author and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and the Borns Jewish Studies Program at Indiana University. Her essay “Homemaking in Palestine: Jessie Sampter, Religion, and Relation” explores poet and Zionist Jessie Sampter through the lenses of “home” and “abroad.” The three of them discuss the history of Sampter, the role of Zionism and Judaism in her identity, and the power of biographies for social change.

In today's episode of Interactions, we’re going to talk about the r-i-t-e rite to death—the religious rites and rituals that accompany death, made particularly salient in death row cases. For this, we’ll be looking at the case of Ramirez v. Collier.  In this case, John Ramirez, a Texas death row inmate, requested that he be permitted to have his pastor present at his execution, pray over him and lay hands on him. But Texas denied the request, and the case went to the Supreme Court. The question became whether Texas’s denial represented a violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and a violation of RLUIPA. In this interview, we ask the question: What rights do religious inmates have on death row?  In this second episode of our two-part series, we talk to Peter Wosnik, the owner and founder of Wosnik Law, LLC, which is a trial-based law firm serving the Metro Atlanta area. Wosnik is also a graduate of Emory University School of Law (Juris Doctor) and Candler School of Theology (Master of Theological Studies), where he received the Savage-Levey scholarship in law and religion. Listen now.

In today's episode of Interactions, we want to talk about prisoners on death row and the r-i-g-h-t right to death—the right, if there is one, for death row inmates to have a say in deciding the way in which they die. For this, we’re going to be looking at the case of Michael Nance, a death row inmate who requested death by firing squad in the state of Georgia. By current law, death row inmates are allowed to contest the means of execution, which currently is by lethal injection.  But to do so, they have to come up with the alternative means of execution themselves. We’ll be getting into relevant cases like Glossip v. Gross, how retributive justice unfolds in American prisons, and discussing the ethics of what happens when the burden falls on the prisoner to decide the way they die.  In this first episode of two, we talk to Daniel LaChance of Emory University, an author and legal scholar working at the intersection of American legal and cultural history, criminology, and literary studies. Listen now. Check out LaChance's two books: Executing Freedom: The Cultural Life of Capital Punishment and Crimesploitation.