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John Sexton served as the fifteenth president of New York University. During his term as president Sexton continued his commitment to teaching in the classroom, conducting one class at the law school and another for undergraduates. His determination to making NYU a top teaching university will continue in Abu Dhabi, where he will offer a course in the core curriculum, The Relationship of Government and Religion.
This course treats the relationship between government and religion, using the opinions of the United States Supreme Court. It offers a close examination of the interpretation of the 16 relevant words from the American Constitution: "Government shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These words broadly prohibit any government entanglement with religion, while simultaneously investing the government with a solemn responsibility to protect religious freedom; the course examines, among other subjects, the tension within these dual goals and the efforts made to abide by them. Students will read two or three unedited Supreme Court opinions for each class, including various concurring and dissenting opinions. There also are supplementary materials which complement these opinions. There are regular, relatively short writing assignments, in which students critically analyze one of the opinions read for and discussed in class. There may be additional writing assignments as well, and the Classroom Assistants provide instructions for the assignments in advance of their due dates
Previously taught: Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, January 2023, Spring 2023
This course appears in...
3 credits
Relationship Between Government and Religion: This course treats the relationship between government and religion, using the opinions of the United States Supreme Court. It offers a close examination of the interpretation of the 16 relevant words from the American Constitution: "Government shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These words broadly prohibit any government entanglement with religion, while simultaneously investing the government with a solemn responsibility to protect religious freedom; the course examines, among other subjects, the tension within these dual goals and the efforts made to abide by them. Students will read two or three unedited Supreme Court opinions for each class, including various concurring and dissenting opinions. There also may be supplementary materials which complement these opinions. There are regular, relatively short writing assignments, in which students critically analyze one of the opinions read for and discussed in class. The Classroom Assistants provide instructions for the assignments in advance of their due dates. Students also can look forward to structured learning experiences outside the classroom.
This course will be offered in January-Term 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Previously taught: January 2024, January 2025
This course appears in...
