Law and Religion in the Classroom: Teaching Church-State Relationships

Abstract

The theory explaining different types of state–religion or state–church relationships is a fundamental part of the study of law and religion. At the tertiary level this is typically taught via the use of models which present a relationship between the different types of state–religion or state–church relationships and freedom of religion. These models have a number of shortcomings and tend to be used as a taxonomy rather than as an aid to understanding. In 2021, I piloted a new approach to teaching this model in a Law and Religion unit. This paper outlines the inspiration behind my approach in 2021, the steps involved in the activity, my reflections on the success of the activity, and my proposed refinements for 2022.