Across cultures, religious and secular legal traditions have deeply shaped - and been shaped by - theological, ethical, philosophical, and social thought. Their concepts, structures, and practices have informed moral reasoning, political ideas, and debates about justice, human dignity, authority, and the common good. As such, they provide a rich lens through which to explore the interplay between religion, law, and ethics.

The Religion, Ethics and Law (REL-Project) evolved from the Theology and Canon Law Project (TCLP) through growing interdisciplinary engagement, particularly following its second symposium. It reflects a broader shift toward increased interest in the intersections of religious traditions, ethical reflection, and legal reasoning across disciplines, with the aim of fostering dialogue and exploring the relationship between religion and normativity.

The REL-Project explores these intersections by asking:

• How have theological and ethical ideas shaped moral, social, and political thought throughout history, and in what ways have they intersected with both secular and religious legal frameworks?
• How can insights from religious, legal, and ethical traditions contribute to contemporary debates on justice, human dignity, and the common good?
• What new perspectives arise when theology, philosophy, and social ethics engage in dialogue with secular and religious legal frameworks?

REL serves as a digital hub for interdisciplinary scholarship, linking projects such as the Gratian Encyclopedia. Through the REL-Symposium, it fosters conversations at the intersection of theology, ethics, philosophy, and law, emphasizing the ethical and cultural significance of religious and secular legal traditions and their role in shaping moral and social thought.

The project focuses on three complementary strands:

• Historical and theological foundations – exploring how religious legal frameworks have developed as media for ethical and philosophical reflection.
• Philosophical and ethical concepts – examining ideas embedded in secular and religious legal texts and their relevance for contemporary moral and social thought (legal ethics).
• Theological engagement with contemporary challenges – considering how the values codified in religious legal frameworks can inform modern debates in ethics, society, and culture.