ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the conversations related to the fourth biennial conference of the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies, held from 8 to 11 September 2016 at St. As a worldwide health emergency drives government policies of restrictions on behavior, it is particularly useful to review the foundations and implications of rights associated with freedom of religion and belief that have been critical over time in influencing relations between religious organizations and governments. Seeing communal religious autonomy as 'vital to freedom of, for, within and from religion', Durham asserts the historical lesson that 'perhaps precisely because of tensions, religious autonomy is one of the most effective tools we have for channeling the influence of conscience in fruitful paths.' Secularism can mean different things to different people and is extremely difficult to define.
