Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Public Theology, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

Essay “A Natural Law Basis for Human Rights?” on Canopy Forum

The opening paragraph of the essay reads as follows: "Attempts by the United States State Department’s Commission on Unalienable Rights to identify a subset of proper “unalienable rights” within the broader category of human rights are sometimes perceived as an almost reactionary effort. The adoption of a historical-philosophical perspective reveals that, on the contrary, even… Continue reading Essay “A Natural Law Basis for Human Rights?” on Canopy Forum

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics

Critique of my recent article on the LSE Religion and Global Society interdisciplinary blog

Prof. Pryor (Campbell University) just published this fair and knowledgeable critique of my recent article on the London School of Economics Religion and Global Society interdisciplinary blog on 'The Natural Law and Natural Rights Tradition: A Foundation for Religious Freedom': Natural Rights, Natural Law, and a Conservative Renewal. From his blog post: "Ten Napel recognizes… Continue reading Critique of my recent article on the LSE Religion and Global Society interdisciplinary blog

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

Article on the LSE Religion and Global Society interdisciplinary blog: ‘The Natural Law and Natural Rights Tradition; A Foundation for Religious Freedom’

Photo by Amaury Gutierrez on Unsplash ''To kick off our series on freedom of religion or belief, Hans-Martien ten Napel considers why the right to this freedom, a foundation stone of the liberal democratic order, is threatened. He describes how the notion of natural rights has been replaced by a proliferation of legalistic human rights. Seemingly a welcome… Continue reading Article on the LSE Religion and Global Society interdisciplinary blog: ‘The Natural Law and Natural Rights Tradition; A Foundation for Religious Freedom’

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

‘Review Essay: Theological Medicine for Liberal Democracy’, in Journal of Markets & Morality, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Spring 2019)

Photo Credit: Seth Thompson, © 2017 Green Frog Photo   'Abstract As Smith points out, the genealogy of liberal democracy demonstrates that liberalism is nothing less than the prodigal son of Christianity. Thus, it becomes plausible that Christianity has a continuing role to play in a liberal democracy. Smith might even be right that it is… Continue reading ‘Review Essay: Theological Medicine for Liberal Democracy’, in Journal of Markets & Morality, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Spring 2019)

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Dutch Politics, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

Guest Lecture on “Natural Law, Human Rights, and Religious Freedom”

UPDATE: Beautiful place to give a guest talk this morning: The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Distress in Heiloo, North-Holland. The lecture was on "Natural Law, Human Rights, and Religious Freedom." The audience consisted of a group of talented leaders of the Christian Democratic Youth Appeal. Other speakers during the weekend included Minister of  State… Continue reading Guest Lecture on “Natural Law, Human Rights, and Religious Freedom”

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

Brief photo impression of the Annual Conference 2019 of the European Academy of Religion in Bologna, Italy

Returning to Bologna felt like coming home this week. A big thank you to the European Academy of Religion for making the Annual Conference 2019 once again such an inspiring event. A brief photo impression of some personal trivia and highlights: Alway good to see my recent book on display. At the conference photo booth.… Continue reading Brief photo impression of the Annual Conference 2019 of the European Academy of Religion in Bologna, Italy

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

Upcoming Speaking Engagement: Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion, Bologna, March 4-7, 2019

From 4-7 March, I will be chairing two panels on philosopher James K.A. Smith's trilogy during the Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion in Bologna. Read more about the panels here: 'This panel considers James K.A. Smith’s Cultural Liturgies (Desiring the King, Imagining the King, Awaiting the King) and discusses the potential for… Continue reading Upcoming Speaking Engagement: Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion, Bologna, March 4-7, 2019

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

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

The conference will take place at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (Departamento de Direito), Brasil, from 12-14 September 2018 I will be addressing the question: “Can natural law serve as foundation for a truly universal right to freedom of religion or belief?” Other speakers during the conference include: Silvio Ferrari (University of… Continue reading Upcoming Speaking Engagement: The Fifth ICLARS Conference – Living Together in Diversity: Strategies from Law and Religion

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

Call for Papers, Panel on Public Theology and its potential for Law and Religion scholarship

UPDATE: see for the call: I am currently putting together a panel for the 2019 conference of the European Academy of Religion on the question of what, if anything, law and religion scholarship can learn from public theology works such as James K.A. Smith's Awaiting the King. Anyone interested in joining the panel, please let… Continue reading Call for Papers, Panel on Public Theology and its potential for Law and Religion scholarship

Comparative Constitutional Law, Democracy, Law and Religion, Religion and Politics, Whither Europe?

Panel Chair and Presenter, First Annual Conference, European Academy of Religion, Bologna, 5-8 March, 2018

'The European Academy of Religion (EuARe) is a research initiative launched under the high patronage of the European Parliament which offers an exchange platform to academies and scientific societies; associations; research centers and institutions; university labs, clusters, and departments; journals, publishers, media and scholars coming from Europe and the surrounding regions' (see https://www.europeanacademyofreligion.org/missionstatement). With over 900 participants, the… Continue reading Panel Chair and Presenter, First Annual Conference, European Academy of Religion, Bologna, 5-8 March, 2018