Can you briefly describe your book?
The growing presence in Western society of non-mainstream faiths and spiritual practices poses a dilemma for the law. For example, if a fortune teller promises to tell the future in exchange for cash, and both parties believe in the process, has a fraud been committed? Using that example as a case study, and building on a thorough history of the legal regulation of fortune-telling laws in four countries, Faith or Fraud examines the impact of people who identify as “spiritual but not religious” on the future legal understanding of religious freedom. Traditional legal notions of religious freedom, Jeremy Patrick explains, were conceived in the context of organized religion; now the law needs to adapt to a contemporary spirituality, in which individuals can select concepts drawn from multiple religions, philosophies, and folklore to develop their own idiosyncratic belief systems. Faith or Fraud exposes the law’s failure to recognize individual spirituality as part of modern religious practice, concluding that legal understanding of freedom of religion has not evolved along with religion itself.
Why did you decide to publish it with UBC Press?
I knew that a university press would have an appreciation and understanding of quality scholarship, as well as the knowledge of how to best distribute the book in the academic market. The University of British Columbia Press is well-regarded for their high standards, and I felt privileged to be publishing with them.
Do you enjoy the writing process?
I used to say, “I hate writing, but enjoy having written”. Now that I’ve done a lot of academic writing, I find it much easier than I used to. Working through ideas and bringing disparate strands of authority together into a coherent whole is very satisfying.
Who, or what, inspires you?
The twin pillars of classical liberalism–freedom and equality–guide my work.
What book – for work or pleasure – would you recommend right now?
“The Gaps” by Leanne Hall. Although marketed as a YA novel, adults will also find a powerful and memorable story.
What advice would you offer to young academics wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Write about something you’re genuinely interested in and passionate about, because otherwise it’ll be a long slog to the end.
What’s next?
This year, I’ve turned from writing Faith or Fraud to working on launching the Australian Journal of Law and Religion, writing some brief pieces for the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, and starting a podcast called “Law and Religion Down Under”.
Jeremy Patrick is a lecturer in the School of Law and Justice at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia, where he also convenes the law, religion, and heritage research program team. Faith or Fraud: Fortune-telling, Spirituality, and the Law is published by UBC Press.