As part of its annual observance of Constitution and Citizenship Day, on Wednesday, September 25, Taylor hosted Dr. Vincent Phillip Muñoz, Tocqueville Professor of Political Science and Concurrent Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame.
In front of a capacity audience in the Zondervan Library, Muñoz offered reflections on the topic “Freedom from Religion or Freedom for Religion? Religious Liberty and American Constitutionalism.” The address drew on his extensive body of scholarship, including his most recent book Religious Liberty and the American Founding: Natural Rights and the Original Meanings of the First Amendment Religion Clauses, published in 2022.
After his address, Muñoz participated in a vibrant period of Q & A with attendees including students, faculty and staff, and other local community members.
“Professor Muñoz demonstrated for our students what it means to engage in thoughtful and faithful scholarship, and his interactions with our community proved to be just as valuable as the content of his talk,” reflected Dr. Kevin Johnson, associate professor of History and Global Studies and chair of the History, Global, & Political Studies Department. “The chance to bring a scholar of Professor Muñoz’s stature to Taylor is just one of the many reasons we’re grateful for the generosity of our donor, John Halbrook, who sponsors our regular programming on citizenship and civic engagement.”
Since completing a BA at Claremont McKenna College, an MA at Boston College, and a PhD at Claremont Graduate School, Muñoz has served stints on the faculties of Tufts University and North Carolina State University before moving to Notre Dame in 2009. Along with his teaching and scholarship, he founded and serves as Director of the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government.
Any faithful work on this era and topic, in Muñoz’s words, “demands scholarly humility,” a quality he modeled for all in attendance that afternoon.
