International Center for Law and Religion Studies

The International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) is an international network of scholars and experts of law and religion begun in 2007 with Professor Silvio Ferrari of the University of Milan as President. The purpose of ICLARS is to provide a forum for exchange of information, data, and opinions among members, which are then made available to the broader scientific community. Currently, ICLARS has members from more than 40 countries. ICLARS organizes conferences every other year and publishes a regular newsletter. ICLARS conference held so far are featured below:

The Fifth ICLARS Conference – Living Together in Diversity: Strategies from Law and Religion

The Fifth Conference of the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) was held 12-14 September at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil. The theme of the Conference was Living Together in Diversity: Strategies from Law and Religion. ICLRS Director Brett Scharffs (a member of the ICLARS Steering Committee), Founding Director W. Cole Durham, Jr. (Past President of ICLARS), Associate Directory Gary Doxey, Senior Fellow Scott Isaacson, and Publications Director Donlu Thayer (a member of the conference…

Recordings from the 2016 ICLARS Oxford Conference Now Available

ICLARS Oxford Conference
Video Recordings Here

Recordings of sessions for the Fourth Conference of the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS), held 8-11 September 2016 at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, UK are now available on the website of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS) at Brigham Young University. ICLRS was the primary co-sponsor of the event, along with the University of Milan, and the Religion, Law and International Relations Programme of the Centre for Christianity and Culture of Regent’s Park College, Oxford….

ICLARS IV: “Freedom of/for/from/within Religion: Differing Dimensions of a Common Right?”

The Fourth Conference of the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) was held 8-11 September 2016 at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, UK. This highly successful event brought together some 150 international experts from 37 countries to discuss the conference themes, “Freedom of/ for/ from/ within Religion: Differing Dimensions of a Common Right?”, to participate in two important book launches (see below*), and to share information about Journals, Book Series, and Associations, and Centers dealing with law and religion and religious freedom worldwide.

Recordings of sessions for the conference are now available here.

The conference was co-sponsored with ICLARS by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS) of Brigham Young University Law School, the University of Milan, and the Religion, Law and International Relations Programme of the Centre for Christianity and Culture of…

Third ICLARS Conference: Religion, Democracy, and Equality, 21-23 August 2013

The International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) held its third bi-annual conference—Religion, Democracy, and Equality—August 21-23, 2013 in Virginia, United States. The conference, organized under the direction of the ICLARS Steering Committee, featured presentations by more than 90 international experts. The keynote address was given by Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

The International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS) of the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, was pleased to play a supportive role in the organization and sponsoring of the conference, under the direction of ICLARS President and ICLRS Director, W. Cole Durham, Jr.

Co-sponsors of the conference included the University of Virginia School of Law, the Institute of Bill of Rights Law of William & Mary Law School, and the First Freedom Center. The organizers…

2nd ICLARS Conference, Religion and Constitution – Santiago, 8-10 September 2011

The Second Conference of the International Consortium for Law and Religions Studies (ICLARS), was held 8-10 September 2011 at Pontifica Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile. ICLARS is an international network of scholars and experts of law and religion. It began in 2007, with the aim of providing a place where information, data, and opinions could be exchanged among members and made available to the broader scientific community. To this end, ICLARS organizes conferences and publishes a newsletter. The First ICLARS Conference, “Law and Religion in the 21st Century: Relations between States and Religious Communities,” was held in Milan in 2009; its proceedings have been published by Ashgate.

The theme of this second conference was Religion and Constitution, and speakers from South and North America, Europe, Africa, Israel, China, and Nepal addressed the topic, in…

Cole Durham Named ICLARS President at Conference in Santiago, Chile – September 2011

Professor W. Cole Durham, Jr., Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS) at Brigham Young University, was installed as President of the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) at the Second ICLARS Conference, held 8-10 September 2011 in Santiago, Chile. Professor Durham succeeds Professor Silvio Ferrari of Università degli Studi di Milano. Professor Robert Smith, ICLRS Managing Director, serves as member of the ICLARS Secretariat.

ICLARS is an international network of scholars and experts of law and religion. It began in 2007, with the aim of providing a place where information, data, and opinions could be exchanged among members and made available to the broader scientific community. To this end, ICLARS…

First ICLARS Congress Held, 22-24 January 2009

The International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) is an “international association of scholars and experts of law and religion” which seeks to “become the reference point and liaison for all who are interested in the international and comparative dimensions of the relations between states and religions.” ICLARS works to organize conferences, publish newsletters, and run a website to provide up-to-date information about the Consortium. The First ICLARS Congress was held on January 22-24, 2009, at the University of Milan, Italy. The Congress addressed “Law and Religion in the 21st Century: Relations Between States and Religious Communities.”