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Archive: Just Law and Religion
Keeping the real threat in view
The much harder work for Christians like Jones is not exposing the radicalism in Islam (or in other religions). The hard work is keeping in public sight the immense diversity of the Islamic world and making distinctions between those intent on harming innocents and those hellbent on destruction of peaceful peoples everywhere.
By Michael Kessler | September 11, 2010; 01:52 PM ET | Comments (5)
What would George Washington say about Islam in USA?
Perhaps Palin and Gingrich and others who chatter about loving America and hating all Muslims might quiet themselves for a moment to reflect on the way that our first President -George Washington--treated the other disfavored tribe of Abrahamic descendents (the Jews) during his day.
By Michael Kessler | July 28, 2010; 03:41 PM ET | Comments (103)
Religious freedom to exclude
Supreme Court acknowledges, doesn't fix conflicts with religious freedom, academic freedom, non-discrimination.
By Michael Kessler | June 28, 2010; 05:42 PM ET | Comments (34)
The dignity of pedestrians
Laws designed to protect pedestrians are broken, a moral failure of government.
By Michael Kessler | June 11, 2010; 02:04 PM ET | Comments (4)
An oil-driven Memorial Day
Gulf crisis shows what happens when we mix oil with seawater, faith in technology with worship of mobility.
By Michael Kessler | May 28, 2010; 12:41 PM ET | Comments (5)
Cross purposes
Court's 'establishment clause shuffle' on Mojave cross case says not all religious symbols are religious.
By Michael Kessler | April 28, 2010; 04:54 PM ET | Comments (10)
National day of prayer w/ caution
If you're religious and want prayer recognized nationally, having government do it is a bad idea.
By Michael Kessler | April 23, 2010; 03:06 PM ET | Comments (8)
National day of prayer confusion
Reagan's liberal attempt to recognize America's many faiths has become another culture war battleground.
By Michael Kessler | April 16, 2010; 05:27 PM ET | Comments (26)
The religious neutrality of Justice John Paul Stevens
His jurisprudence reflects a deep conviction that religious lives of citizens can flourish without governmental intrusion.
By Michael Kessler | April 9, 2010; 04:20 PM ET | Comments (9)
No Sabbath rest for job weary?
Bad economy seems to be making it worse for sabbath observing employees.
By Michael Kessler | April 2, 2010; 03:51 PM ET | Comments (12)
Silencing student religious beliefs
A student is not a government, so why can't talk about her faith during her graduation speech?
By Michael Kessler | March 20, 2010; 11:30 PM ET | Comments (10)
Establishment Clause doesn't limit foreign policy
Constitution doesn't prevent president from aiding religion as part of foreign policy, so long as it is not action upon U.S. citizens.
By Michael Kessler | February 26, 2010; 12:21 PM ET | Comments (9)
The dignity of snow shovelers
What 'Snowmageddon,' selfish neighbors and Pope Leo can teach us about the godly dignity of labor.
By Michael Kessler | February 10, 2010; 03:37 PM ET | Comments (17)
Holy wars and weapons
A firm's practice of encoding military weapons with Bible cites says more about Christianity than about the Constitution.
By Michael Kessler | January 22, 2010; 12:18 PM ET | Comments (2)
No room in health reform for Mary?
Do religious exemptions and conscience clauses blind us to the mysterious ways of God?
By Michael Kessler | December 17, 2009; 05:13 PM ET | Comments (6)
Best and worst of humanity on Bravo
Don't blame Bravo for the Salahi saga, or for merely documenting the best and worst of human achievement.
By Michael Kessler | December 8, 2009; 03:28 PM ET | Comments (0)
Jefferson's Thanksgiving wish
Jefferson's principled -- and patriotic -- reasons for not issuing a traditional Thanksgiving proclamation.
By Michael Kessler | November 25, 2009; 09:27 AM ET | Comments (6)
McDonnell's reaction to Robertson's hate
Governor-elect's subtle disavowal of Pat Robertson's hateful comments was downright Madisonian.
By Michael Kessler | November 20, 2009; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (7)
Marriage and discrimination
Moral, religious, and legal treatment of interracial marriage has progressed. Will the same happen for same-sex marriage?
By Michael Kessler | November 6, 2009; 11:06 AM ET | Comments (21)
John Brown's disobedience
Can we condone people who appeal to a higher law while ignoring the civil law? Slavery then, abortion now?
By Michael Kessler | October 30, 2009; 04:33 AM ET | Comments (7)
Unveiling anonymous comments
Anonymous commenters deplete society of engaged, critical reflection, building pressure on the hate-filled social underbelly.
By Michael Kessler | October 23, 2009; 01:38 PM ET | Comments (36)
Obama's Noble Alternative
I wish Obama had declined the Peace Prize and given it to the people of Iran who protested an oppressive regime.
By Michael Kessler | October 9, 2009; 02:31 PM ET | Comments (10)
Bono's Prophetic Rock Concert
The U2 concert was a rock opera rendition of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and a moral call to action.
By Michael Kessler | October 1, 2009; 11:09 PM ET | Comments (15)
Remembering September 11 Every Day
"9/11 changed everything." It's a common trope, but it is not clear that our personal and social lives were significantly transformed by September 11.
By Michael Kessler | September 24, 2009; 11:08 AM ET | Comments (0)
Muslims on the Mall
Planned Muslim prayer gathering on the National Mall another monument to George Washington's America.
By Michael Kessler | September 11, 2009; 01:51 PM ET | Comments (82)
Big City Neighbors Stop Attacker
When a woman is attacked, big-city strangers become neighbors and come to her aid.
By Michael Kessler | August 28, 2009; 11:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
Sarah Palin's "Death Panel" Lies
Read the proposed legislation. There is nothing remotely resembling such a sinister control of human life.
By Michael Kessler | August 13, 2009; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
A Faithful Way to Reform Health Care
What Republican, health-care reform obstructionists could learn from the Council of Nicaea.
By Michael Kessler | July 23, 2009; 05:02 PM ET | Comments (1)
What's in Sotomayor's Heart?
Don't expect the judicial confirmation process to be revelatory. Hearings are more show than showdown.
By Michael Kessler | July 16, 2009; 01:06 PM ET | Comments (12)
A Slave to Principle
Note to Rep. King of Iowa: You're in the Capitol to represent the will of the people, not the will of God.
By Michael Kessler | July 10, 2009; 10:07 PM ET | Comments (2)
Revolutionary Freedom of Religion
The founders urged tolerance of religious diversity. They knew that faith flourishes when left alone by government.
By Michael Kessler | July 2, 2009; 06:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
The Private Affair of Mark Sanford
Yes, he's a hypocrite. He called for Bill Clinton's resignation. But he's never tried to impose 'God's law' on others.
By Michael Kessler | June 24, 2009; 05:02 PM ET | Comments (10)
PBS: Public Broadcasting is Secular
By banning religious programs, PBS is trying to be neutral but will they lose touch with local community needs?
By Michael Kessler | June 18, 2009; 11:17 AM ET | Comments (8)
Fair Faith-Based Partnerships
Obama and DuBois must make sure all faith groups have equal access to federal funds.
By Michael Kessler | June 12, 2009; 11:18 AM ET | Comments (4)
A Wing and a Prayer
As we learned again with the Air France crash, the only real peace comes from faith, prayer, and meditation.
By Michael Kessler | June 4, 2009; 09:28 AM ET | Comments (4)
Sotomayor and Religious Freedom
Sotomayor is no judicial activist, but she does realize courts must interpret laws that too often are unclear.
By Michael Kessler | May 27, 2009; 01:50 PM ET | Comments (1)
Save Daniel Hauser
Can a 13-year-old choose to reject vital medical treatments for religious reasons? Should his mother or the state let him?
By Michael Kessler | May 22, 2009; 01:22 AM ET | Comments (32)
6 Questions for S. Court Nominee
We should pay close attention to how a new justice would protect fundamental rights to religious and moral liberty:
By Michael Kessler | May 15, 2009; 08:37 AM ET | Comments (7)
Souter and McConnell: Protecting Religious Freedom
The two retiring judges made a profound mark on the intersection of religion and government.
By Michael Kessler | May 7, 2009; 10:39 AM ET | Comments (0)
Religious Exemptions for Same-Sex Unions
Recent decisions on same-sex unions raise questions about links between religious and racial discrimination.
By Michael Kessler | May 1, 2009; 05:41 AM ET | Comments (22)
Confronting the Taliban Thugs
President Obama's diplomacy can help us distinguish between good theology and extremist thuggery.
By Michael Kessler | April 16, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
Obama's Faith-Based Opportunity
President could use his faith-based office to mobilize all non-profits and bolster the safety in this recession.
By Michael Kessler | April 2, 2009; 08:44 AM ET | Comments (4)
Free Market's "Invisible Hand" Not a Fist
Even Adam Smith, hero of free marketeers, said government must regulate some aspects of the economy.
By Michael Kessler | March 27, 2009; 10:49 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Court's Monumental Error
The recent Supreme Court ruling raises the question: How can the government select one group's religious expression and deny another's?
By Michael Kessler | March 17, 2009; 09:39 AM ET | Comments (4)
