About the Book
Following the 9/11 terrorist attack, the attention paid to the issue of how peoples of various faiths live by both secular laws as well as their religious law has increased significantly. The issues of freedom of religion and religious accommodation in law are being debated in courts and legislatures across numerous jurisdictions. Such debates are also closely associated with broader discussions around secularism, multiculturalism, immigration, settlement and security.
The book is unique in bringing together leading scholars and respected religious leaders to address contemporary issues in the relationship of law, religion and the state. The contributors to the volume bring legal, theoretical, historical and religious insights to bear on some of the most pressing social issues of our time. The variety of perspectives highlights the religious dimensions of law, the legal dimensions of religion, and the interaction between secular law and religion. Particular attention is given to the implications for law and society, religious tolerance and freedom. The book focuses on the practical and topical issues that have arisen in recent years in Australia. As one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, a pioneer of multicutural policies in immigration and social justice, Australia is a revealing site for contemporary studies in a world afraid of immigration and terrorism, issues that are affecting much of the globe.