"The Founders understood religious liberty to be an inalienable natural right. Vincent Phillip Muñoz explains what this means for church-state constitutional law, uncovering what we can and cannot determine about the original meanings of the First Amendment's Religion Clauses and constructing a natural rights jurisprudence of religious liberty."--
Natural Rights and the Original Meanings of the First Amendment Religion Clauses
Exploring the concept of religious liberty as an inalienable natural right, the book delves into the implications for church-state constitutional law. Vincent Phillip Muñoz analyzes the original meanings of the First Amendment's Religion Clauses, revealing the limitations of our interpretations. He constructs a natural rights jurisprudence that seeks to clarify the foundational principles of religious liberty in the context of American law.
The Essential Cases and Documents
Focusing on landmark legal battles, this book provides an authoritative overview of First Amendment cases that have shaped religious liberty in the United States. It explores the contentious nature of these issues throughout American history, detailing significant court decisions and their impact on the interpretation of religious freedom.
"This volume is intended for citizens and students who seek to understand the U.S. Supreme Court's church-state jurisprudence. The cases and documents presented comprise the most important legal materials pertaining to the First Amendment's protection of religious liberty. The included Supreme Court cases are presented chronologically, which, it is hoped, will help the reader grasp how various First Amendment church-state doctrines were developed and have changed over time". -- PAGE xix.