Is the separation of church and state part of our law? If so, what does “separation” mean? If not, how should religious Americans bring their faith to the public square? In this course, we will examine competing views of the proper relationship between religion and American public life, from our nation’s founding until today. Through excerpts from political philosophers, Supreme Court cases, and contemporary scholars, we will try to weigh the costs and benefits of the various approaches to answering the persistent questions raised by our First Amendment’s Free Exercise and Establishment clauses.