What is "religion"? What is establishment? What is free exercise? This course will explore the constitutional background of each of these issues, and weigh the constitutional, societal, and ethical implications. The course explores the constitutional tension in American society between the two religion clauses of the First Amendment—the anti-establishment clause, which prohibits government action respecting "establishment" of religion (yet expressly avoids definition of that term); and the free exercise clause, which mandates governmental tolerance of "free exercise" (and expressly avoids definition of that term as well). Undergraduates who have completed less than 51 credits must have the permission of the assistant dean for BALS to register.