Andrea Mitchell Center Annual Conference: States of Religious Freedom
3417 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
What is religious freedom? Can it truly be universal? What are the rights of religious minorities when set against a nation's popular majority? And when religious liberties seemingly conflict with gender and sexuality rights, which should prevail if the conflict cannot be resolved?
In its 2018 Annual Conference, The Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy will address these challenging questions and discuss how the U.S. and other nations accommodates, or hinders, religious expression, culture, and the practice of religious freedom.
SCHEDULE:
9 – 9:15 a.m.
WELCOME
Jeffrey Green, Director of the Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy, University of Pennsylvania
Heather Sharkey, University of Pennsylvania
9:15 – 10:45 a.m.
What is Religious Freedom ?
Chair: Jolyn Thomas, University of Pennsylvania
Presenters: Joshua Matz, Gupta Wessler PLLC and Daniel Philpott, University of Notre Dame
Discussant: Michele Margolis, University of Pennsylavnia
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Can Religious Freedom Be Universal?
Chair: Jim Hrdlicka, University of Pennsylvania
Presenters: Heiner Bielefeldt, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg and W. Cole Durham, Brigham Young University
Discussant: Rogers Smith, University of Pennsylvania
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
LUNCH
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
What Are the Rights of Religious Minorities Against Popular Majorities?
Chair: Daniel Cheely, University of Pennsylvania
Presenters: Lori G. Beaman, University of Ottawa and William Schultz, University of Pennsylvania
Discussant: William Schultz, University of Pennsylvania
3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Gender and Sexuality Rights v. Religious Rights: Which Come First?
Chair: Ronit Stahl, University of Pennsylvania
Mayanthi Fernando, University of California Santa Cruz and R. Marie Griffith, Washington University in St. Louis
Discussant: Anthea Butler, University of Pennsylvania
4:45 – 5 p.m
Concluding Discussion and Remarks
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Reception
Co-sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Department of Religious Studies.
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