BYU Law School’s Post

Check out my remarks from the International Center for Law and Religion Studies Annual International Law and Religion Symposium on "Religious Freedom and Peacemaking." Appreciated the opportunity to speak to this critical issue and spotlight findings from my book about teaching tolerance. https://lnkd.in/e-bwtSn8

Did you know? 🤔 While the Ten Commandments form the core of Jewish law, rabbinical tradition expanded this to 613 commandments or mitzvot. These include 248 positive commandments (things to do) and 365 negative commandments (things to avoid), covering various aspects of daily life, ritual, and ethics. How do you think having such detailed religious laws might impact daily life? Share your thoughts in the comments!

It looks like my dissertation proposal has been approved by CUA! Title of it: The Status of Incardination of a Cleric Dismissed from His Religious Institute according to the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

It was with great honor that I had the opportunity to present my recent legal commentary, titled "Hazaras and Shias: Violence, Discrimination, and Exclusion," at the Cornell South Asia Program. https://lnkd.in/eBQe87UP

I talk with Dr. Jordana Silverstein of the University of Melbourne about Gaza, the history of Zionism and the relationship of International Law. Do watch for an interesting discussion!

Grégor Puppinck's article "Conscientious Objection and Human Rights: A Systematic Analysis", published in "Brill Research Perspectives in Law and Religion" (https://lnkd.in/duKyHiZg), has been translated (and updated) into Spanish for "Editorial Encuentro" (https://lnkd.in/dgK9_5TM). I find this book to be an indispensable perspective on conscientious objection, especially now, when surprisingly mainstream politics (both national and international) consider conscientious objection as an obstacle and enemy of the so-called new rights.

No way.... true religion is there to unite us and has the target to bring people together in oneness..... some human interpretations make a mess out of this. Religions promote non-violent interaction as equals. This leads to mutual understanding and empathy, exchanging fear and hatred for trust and solidarity. Religions let humanity grow together in relation to God. www.samadeus.org & www.pax.ngo

The current political atmosphere would suggest that law is imposed only from above, specifically by the chief executive acting upon some sort of perceived populist mandate. In Law from Below, Elisabeth Rain Kincaid shows that the theology of the early modern legal theorist and theologian, Francisco Suárez, SJ may be successfully retrieved to provide a constructive model of legal engagement for Christians today. Ultimately, Law from Below argues that the dialogue between legislators and the community provides Christian activists with a range of options for constructively engaging with law in order to have a positive impact on society. https://bit.ly/4bE27l4

European Centre for Law & Justice, The Systematic Erasure of Armenian Christian Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, June 2024, https://lnkd.in/e8hFEsmw Abstract: "Nagorno-Karabakh, located in what is now southwestern Azerbaijan, hosts a rich treasure trove of Armenian Christian heritage—churches, monasteries, khachkars, and other cultural artifacts that tell of the faith and culture of the Armenian people. These cherished pieces of Armenian history, however, are being systematically erased from the region. .. "The region of Nagorno-Karabakh boasts of approximately 500 cultural sites holding roughly 6,000 relics of Armenian heritage. For decades, the Armenians and Azerbaijanis have struggled over Nagorno-Karabakh, each claiming rightful control. This intermittent conflict has resulted in both bloodshed and the destruction of precious cultural heritage. After the Second Karabakh War (September 2020-November 2020), Azerbaijan gained control of the majority of Nagorno-Karabakh. Between November 2020 and September 2023, dozens of Armenian Christian heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh were destroyed or damaged. When not torn down, many of these sites were closed to the public, even to pilgrims. Now, with Azerbaijan’s complete control of Nagorno-Karabakh following a military offensive in September 2023, the destruction of Armenia’s cultural heritage has only grown more rampant. .. "Armenia’s heritage can only be monitored via satellite surveillance, and access to sources regarding the cultural destruction is limited. This report provides a thorough list and detailed examination of the religious heritage sites that have been destroyed, damaged, or threatened by Azerbaijan between September 2023 and June 2024. This report also details the cultural revisionism carried out by Azerbaijan. To accomplish complete cultural erasure, Azerbaijan has gone beyond merely destroying Armenian heritage—Azerbaijan is also denying it ever existed. Azerbaijan’s destruction of Armenian culture warrants attention not only because a people group’s invaluable heritage is endangered, but also because Azerbaijan’s actions contravene international agreements. .. "Regardless of whether it is due to institutional corruption or mere apathy, international organizations and Azerbaijan’s near neighbors have all failed to adopt a strong stance in opposition to the destruction and revisionism of Armenian culture. This must not continue. As noted by historians and cultural experts alike, if total cultural erasure occurs, it will be as a consequence of international complacency. However, there is still time to stop Azerbaijan’s cultural genocide. To prevent the destruction in Nagorno-Karabakh before it is too late, international organizations must go beyond their moral condemnations and take firm, assertive action against the systematic erasure of Armenian Christian heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh."

In a recent interview, theologian Cyril Hovorun dissects Ukraine's new law on religious organizations. It's not about banning churches, but about limiting Russian influence. The law targets administrative structures of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, not the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) directly. The law outlines a three-step process for identifying and potentially banning affiliated organizations, but its practical implementation is challenging. This makes it more of a declaration than an enforceable measure. However, Hovorun notes that the law could significantly change Ukraine's religious landscape. It may push the UOC MP to reconsider its status and potentially bridge the gap with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Interestingly, the Ukrainian state is emerging as a moderator in this inter-religious conflict, seeking to facilitate dialogue between the two churches. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is also involved, attempting to investigate the situation and foster rapprochement. The UOC MP finds itself in a desperate situation, trapped in a canonical limbo of its own making. It's neither autocephalous, autonomous, nor completely dependent on Moscow. The church leadership struggles to explain its status. The way forward for the UOC MP involves reaching out to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, establishing communion with global Orthodoxy, and starting meaningful dialogue with the OCU. However, both churches fear dialogue, prioritizing their corporate interests over the common good of Ukrainian society. Read more: