Faith Matters: Religious Freedom in Society

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/08/2025
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

How do we balance religious freedoms in an increasingly diverse America? The First Amendment seeks to ensure both religious neutrality and free exercise. Yet contemporary debates reveal deep tensions in applying these principles. As religious demographics shift, questions arise about equitable representation and protection for all faith communities in public life. Join leading experts in law, theology, education, and religious liberty as they examine:

• The evolving interpretation of religious freedom in contemporary America
• Challenges and opportunities in protecting diverse religious expressions
• Practical strategies for building an inclusive civic religious culture that honors constitutional principles

This timely discussion will explore possible paths toward ensuring religious liberty for all Americans.

Speakers:

• Suhag A. Shukla, Esq., Executive Director & Co-Founder, Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
• Emile Lester, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Political Science & International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington
• Galen Carey, DMin, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
• Charles C. Haynes, Ph.D., Senior Fellow for Religious Liberty & Founder of Religious Freedom Center, The Freedom Forum
• Mark A. Chancey, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Religious Studies in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at Southern Methodist University

Moderator:

• LaRisa Anderson-Horne, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Communication at the University of Utah

This event is part of UNC’s First Amendment Day and is free and open to the public. Registration is required: https://go.unc.edu/FaithMatters. Students can earn Campus Life Experience (CLE) credit.

Video is available on the Center’s YouTube channel: