Jesse D. Covington, Ph.D., is a professor of polticial science and the director of the Augustinian Scholars Program at Westmont College. His teaching focuses on political theory, constitutional law, political theology, religion and politics and First Amendment law. He has published essays on John Locke, Saint Augustine, natural law, the First Amendment and liberal arts education. He co-edited the book Natural Law and Evangelical Political Thought. He is currently working on a book provisionally titled Taken on Faith: The Concept of Religion in First Amendment Jurisprudence and an ongoing collaborative project on evangelical political thought.

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Reindeer Rule

The reindeer rule applies to an informal First Amendment principle that arose from controversies over the public display of religious holiday decorations.

Thomas v. Review Board of Indiana Employment Security Division (1981)

Thomas v. Review Board of Indiana Employment Security Division (1981) ruled that states could not deny unemployment benefits for quitting his job due to a religious objection.