BARBRA BARNETT 1501 N. Wicker Park Avenue, First Floor Chicago, Illinois 60622 Phone: (773) 772-3941 Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION University of Chicago, Divinity School, Chicago, IL Ph.D., Religious Ethics, August 2009 MA., Religious Studies, June 2002
The George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC J.D., With Honors, May 1996
New York University, New York, NY B.A., Religious Studies, May 1991
DISSERTATION “Religious Arguments in the Public Square: An Examination of Religious Freedom in Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy” Drawing on the work of Jürgen Habermas, this project explores the relationship between religious freedom and democratic political theory. Demonstrating the social and political importance of religious freedom, I offer new insights for interpreting and applying the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. DISSERTATION COMMITTEE: Franklin I. Gamwell University of Chicago Divinity School (Committee Chair) Jean Bethke Elshtain University of Chicago Divinity School, Department of Political Science and the Committee on International Relations (Reader) David A. Strauss University of Chicago Law School (Reader)
FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS Lilly Border Crossing Student Teaching Fellow, University of Chicago, 2008-2009 Martin Marty Center Dissertation Fellow, University of Chicago, 2007-2008 Human Rights Program Teaching Fellow, University of Chicago, Winter 2008 Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Excellence in Civil Procedure, The George Washington University Law School,1993-1994 Founders’ Day Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, New York University, May 1991
QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS Philosophical Ethics Theological Ethics Moral Problems: The Ethics of Democracy History of Christianity Modern Period (1600-present)
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PAPERS & PUBLICATIONS
Books: Marketplace of Ideas, Bazaar of Beliefs: The Political Importance of Religious Freedom (MS under review) Does Human Rights Need God? (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005), co-editor and Introduction, with Elizabeth M. Bucar.
Articles: “Twentieth Century Approaches to Defining Religion: Clifford Geertz and the First Amendment,” 7 U. MD. J. RACE, RELIG., GENDER, AND CLASS, 95-139 (2007).
Conference Papers: “Religion and the Process of Internalizing Human Rights Norms,” Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Religion and Politics Section, San Francisco, CA, November 2011 “Trajectories in Constructive Religious Studies: Addressing the Problem of the Political Importance of Religious Freedom,” The Future of Philosophical Theology: Conversations in Honor of Franklin I. Gamwell, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, February 2011 “Marketplace of Ideas, Bazaar of Beliefs: The Political Importance of Religious Freedom in Times of Crisis and Hardship,” Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C., September 2010 “When Discourse Theory Meets the First Amendment: Religious Arguments in the Public Square,” Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Religion and the State Working Group, River Forest, IL, April 2008
“The Science Fiction Dystopia: Battlestar Galactica’s Contributions to Contemporary Discussions of Human Dignity,” Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Ethics Section, San Diego, CA, November 2007
“The Problem of Civic Virtue and Religious Freedom in Pluralistic Democratic Society,” University of Chicago, Divinity School, Martin Marty Center Working Group on Religion and the Democratic Prospect, Chicago, IL, October 2004
Book Reviews Theology and the Boundary Discourse of Human Rights, By Ethna Regan. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2010. 222 pp. $44.95. JOURNAL OF RELIGION 2011;
American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, By Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell (with the assistance of Shaylyn Romney Garrett). New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2010. 673 pp. $30.00. JOURNAL OF RELIGION 2011;
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Religious Faith, Torture, and Our National Soul, By David P. Gushee. Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2010. 303 pp. $28.00. J. OF CHURCH AND STATE 2010; doi: 10.1093/jcs/csq090
Electronic Publications: “The Supreme Court and the Transformation of Demographic Priorities,” Sightings, Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School, April 22, 2010 http://divinity.uchicago.edu/martycenter/publications/sightings/archive_2010/0422.shtml “Seeking Moral Clarity in the Fight Against Sex Trafficking,” Sightings, Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School, September 24, 2009 http://divinity.uchicago.edu/martycenter/publications/sightings/archive_2009/0924.shtml Invited Response to “The Capability of Play,” by Jeffrey Irving Israel, The Religion and Culture Web Forum, Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School, January 2009 http://divinity.uchicago.edu/martycenter/publications/webforum/archive.shtml “Public Wrongs and Rites,” Sightings, Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School, November 8, 2007 http://divinity.uchicago.edu/martycenter/publications/sightings/
Encyclopedia Entries “Religion, Politics, and Law,” “Flag Salute Cases,” “W. Va. State Bd. Of Ed. v. Barnette,” “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments,” and “Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom,” RELIGION AND POLITICS IN AMERICA (ABC-CLIO, forthcoming).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Elmhurst College, Religious Studies Department Adjunct Professor (2007-present) “Christian Ethics and Human Sexuality,” “Religion in America,” and “Food Ethics Seminar: What’s Good to Eat?” Responsibilities include selecting texts and developing syllabi, lectures, assignments and exams to meet the college’s general education requirements.
Elmhurst College, Philosophy Department Adjunct Professor (2010-present) “Philosophy of Religion,” and “Problems of Philosophy” Responsibilities include selecting texts and developing syllabi, lectures, assignments and exams to meet the college’s general education requirements.
University of Chicago, Divinity School Lilly Teaching Fellow, M.Div. Senior Thesis Seminar (2008-09) Advise graduating ministry students on the development of their final research projects and B. Barnett Page 4 of 6 presentations, as a part of the Border Crossing Initiative exploring the relationship between the professions of teaching and ministry.
University of Chicago, Human Rights Program Graduate Teaching Fellow (Winter 2007) “Does Human Rights Need God?” Developed and taught undergraduate course on human rights and religion that qualifies for elective credits towards a minor in human rights.
University of Chicago, Human Rights Program Course Assistant to S. Gzesh (Spring 2006 – Fall 2006) “HR3: Contemporary Issues in Human Rights” Led a weekly discussion section of undergraduate students, met with students about their final research proposals and responsible for all grading for my section. Also delivered a lecture on religious freedom as a human right to the entire class.
University of Chicago, Divinity School Course Assistant to F. I. Gamwell (Winter 2006) “Introduction to Constructive Studies of Religion” Led a weekly discussion section of graduate students in this portion of the required year-long sequence for a master’s degree in religious studies. Readings in theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion revolved around the theme of God and the good.
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Chicago, IL (2003) Part-time Research Associate
LEGAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SNR Denton LLP, Chicago, IL (2006-08): Part-time Marketing Liaison to the Corporate Reorganization & Bankruptcy Practice
SNR Denton LLP, Chicago, IL (2003-04): Part-time Staff Associate, Corporate Reorganization & Bankruptcy Practice
City of Chicago, Board of Ethics, Chicago, IL (2001- 2002): Part-time Research Analyst
Bingham McCutchen LLP, Los Angeles, CA (1997-2000): Associate, Corporate Transactional Practice Member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee (1998-2000)
Barger & Wolen LLP, Los Angeles, CA (1996-1997): Associate, Litigation Practice
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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Member, American Academy of Religion (since 2004) Member, American Political Science Association (since 2010) Member, State Bar of California (since 1996) (currently inactive status) Junior Fellow Representative, Advisory Board, The Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion at the University of Chicago (2007 – 2008)
LANGUAGE COMPETENCIES French and German Written Translation Working knowledge of Spanish
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REFERENCES Franklin I. Gamwell ([email protected]), University of Chicago Divinity School Jean Bethke Elsthain ([email protected]), University of Chicago Divinity School, Department of Political Science, and Committee on International Relations David A. Strauss ([email protected]), University of Chicago, Law School Susan Gzesh, Executive Director ([email protected]), University of Chicago, Human Rights Program Paul Parker ([email protected]), Chair, Elmhurst College, Theology and Religion Department William Schweiker ([email protected]), University of Chicago Divinity School and Director, Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion