RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

At the center of modern-day issues such as religion in public schools and the denial of professional service to others on the basis of religious beliefs, the constitutional right of religious freedom remains both contentious and vehemently protected. Here, in a short, accessible collection, are classic writings that illuminate the core issues and arguments around freedom of religion, as part of the new Penguin Liberty series.

Penguin Liberty is a curated series of historical, political, and legal classic texts relevant to constitutional rights. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Featuring writings by John Locke, James Madison, and Roger Williams, this collection addresses religious freedom, including the right to religious belief and expression, and a guarantee that the government neither prefers religion over non-religion nor favors particular faiths over others. A contentious and essential part of our constitutional rights, religious freedom in American life continues to be debated and protected. Each Penguin Liberty volume will feature a series introduction and volume introduction by series editor Corey Brettschneider.

Corey Brettschneider is a professor of political science at Brown University, where he teaches constitutional law and politics, as well as visiting professor of law at Fordham Law School. He has also been a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and the University of Chicago Law School. His recent writing has appeared in The New York Times, Politico, and The Washington Post. He is the author of The Oath and the Office: A Guide to the Constitution for Future Presidents. He is also the author of two books about constitutional law and civil liberties and numerous articles that appear in top academic journals and law reviews. His constitutional law casebook is widely used in classrooms throughout the United States. Brettschneider holds a PhD in politics from Princeton and a JD from Stanford Law School.