Religion & Law examines the origins and developments of religious liberty in the United States from the colonial and founding periods to the present day. Attention is given to the historical and legal foundations that currently govern the relationship of religion and the state; that define “free exercise” protections for people of all religions and none; that set limitations on the state from “establishing” or privileging a religion; and provides a civic framework for people to self-govern one of the most religiously diverse societies in the world.

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How we debate is just as important as what we debate. Hot topics give the illusion that we must be hot-headed. For instance, if we enter a disagreement with the intent to "win the fight," then the aggressive mood we bring influences the outcome of what we see as a zero-sum game. Does one person's win always need to be another person's loss? How might one person change the nature of a debate by framing it in non-dualistic ways? How can we transform competitive environments into professional, collegial settings? In this course, you will engage people from a wide range of identities and viewpoints and practice how to preserve the dignity of the person with whom you disagree.

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Drawing from the scholarship published by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, this online course equips adult learners to apply solution-seeking research in cultivating their understanding of the legal and political challenges faced by American Muslims. Many of these challenges arise as a result of the current geopolitical climate and widespread misinformation and misunderstanding. Anti-Muslim sentiment and targeted policies that infringe on personal and religious freedom are the new normal. This course is designed to apply ISPU’s public policy research to examine the structural barriers that hinder the American Muslim community from full inclusion and participation. The sources and exercises provide students with an accurate understanding of American Muslim communities, equipping them to build and sustain allyship and identifying common challenges and solutions.

The legal history of religious liberty in the United States reveals a simple fact: there has never been an America without Muslims.

Study groundbreaking research on American Muslim experiences in all their diversity. Track contemporary trends about not only Americans who are Muslim, but Americans of other faiths and no faith as well. In this interactive course you will examine American Muslims’ perspective within the context of their nation’s religious landscape, not as an isolated specimen.

Have you ever felt like some news stories receive a lot more coverage than others of equal importance? You’re not imagining it. In this media literacy course, you will study landmark research about media responses to ideologically motivated violence in the United States. Accurate representation matters. Misrepresentation can be dangerous.

In this interactive course, you will engage a series of “civic tracks” about how American Muslims are treated by the (1) legislative branch, (2) executive branch, (3) judicial branch, (4) law enforcement, and (5) public schools.

What strategies do Muslims employ to recover from personal setbacks, societal pressures, and even internalized Islamophobia? While drawing upon best practices from the field of resiliency education, we will study how Muslims develop healthy coping mechanisms and draw upon their faith to cultivate rich internal lives. We give special attention to how––when faced with adversity––Muslims perform acts of generosity. We reflect on the multigenerational commitment to building resilient communities while maintaining solidarity with non-Muslims. The case studies featured in this course reveal an essential ingredient to human flourishing––American Muslims' unwavering knowledge that they matter, they belong.

Earn academic credit by, first, finishing the 2500-level course collection and, second, completing the following Capstone project. You will receive individualized academic support and advisement. We look forward to supporting you in applying what you learned in the course to your community of practice.

Explore the impact of racialized anti-Muslim bigotry on diverse communities. Study models of effective civic engagement and cultivate inclusive and resilient communities. Develop and apply your religious, cultural, and legal literacy and community engagement skills to real-life challenges. Map the diversity of communities impacted by hate and bigotry in your local neighborhood, city, state, and county. Equip yourself with a foundational knowledge of change and develop action plans to respond to incidents of racialized anti-Muslim bigotry and other forms of hate. Craft long-term, proactive strategies to improve your community’s civic health.

Systemic bias and discrimination against Muslims and those perceived as Muslim are primary challenges to building inclusive communities. This course will explore the causes and consequences of racialized anti-Muslim bigotry on impacted communities in the United States.

Civic health is an antidote to bigotry. Explore inspiring stories of communities and leaders who, despite a heightened climate of anti-Muslim bigotry, successfully built inclusive practices and policies, led collaborative actions, and fostered diverse public engagement to improve their community.

Explore the diversity of practices, beliefs, and perspectives within hate-impacted religious and cultural groups across the U.S. and in your community. Learn frameworks that help explain the religious, cultural, and legal dimensions of American communities. Examine the diversity of religious and cultural groups, and those impacted by anti-Muslim bigotry in particular, and how to grow your knowledge as a way to challenge hate proactively.

Lead with strength, knowing you are prepared to respond to incidents of hate with deliberate and unequivocal confidence. While publicly condemning bigotry incidents is a crucial first step, civic leaders must go beyond rhetorical response. They must enact inclusive policies and initiatives to build a community’s resilience in the face of hate. Integrate into your leadership toolkit the best practices for addressing bias incidents and prepare to not only put out fires but deescalate the hatred that stoked the flames.

Building inclusive communities require long-term, proactive efforts by public leaders. Learn how to create and mobilize diverse coalitions around shared goals to strengthen your community’s civic health. A key characteristic of civically healthy communities is the inclusion of diverse stakeholders. By mobilizing diverse community members around shared goals and values, public leaders can foster resilient, inclusive communities that stand together against bigotry and hate.