Now fast forward. For centuries, the law has stood as a bulwark against tyranny, a system designed to check unchecked power and elevate the dignity of the individual. Due process—the cornerstone of fairness—has long been celebrated for protecting us from arbitrary government action, for giving us a voice, a hearing, a shot at justice. But what if due process also holds something deeper? What if it speaks to something more profound than legal protection—a sacred honoring of our shared humanity?
This is the vision held by the Project for Integrating Spirituality, Law, and Politics (PISLAP), a diverse group of lawyers, law professors, judges, students, and legal workers committed to transforming our understanding of law by recognizing the spiritual nature of every individual.
BEYOND PROCEDURE: THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF DUE PROCESS
Due process is usually framed in legal terms: notice, a hearing, a neutral arbiter. But PISLAP’s reflection, The Spiritual Dimension of Due Process, encourages us to see something deeper. What if these legal protections are also sacred rituals of recognition—formal ways in which society affirms that a person matters?
In a world that often reduces people to their worst moments, their records, or their status, due process can be a moment of radical dignity. It affirms that no matter the accusation, the circumstance, or the social standing, this person is worthy of being heard. Not because of what they’ve done, but because of who they are. A person. A spirit. A soul.
This view doesn’t make due process more sentimental—it makes it more powerful. It reminds us that justice is not only about getting the facts right; it’s about seeing each other clearly, fully, and compassionately.
THE RESISTERS: COURAGE IN THE FACE OF UNJUST POWER
In times of repression, the law can become a weapon wielded against the vulnerable. But in those same moments, it can also become a sanctuary. That’s where The Resisters come in—a reflection honoring the legal professionals who take a stand when the law is twisted into an instrument of cruelty or vengeance.
These are the lawyers who represent the accused when the crowd cries for punishment. The judges who insist on fairness when expedience is easier. The students who question a system that teaches procedure but forgets purpose.
Their resistance is not only legal—it is spiritual. It is a quiet, firm “no” to dehumanization, and a resounding “yes” to conscience.
A DIFFERENT VISION FOR LAW
PISLAP was founded on the belief that law can be more than rules—it can be a pathway to deeper human connection. Its members see the practice and teaching of law not just as professional duties, but as opportunities for healing and transformation.
We live in an era of extraordinary interdependence, where isolation is both a symptom and a cause of societal breakdown. What we need is a legal system that not only regulates conduct but also fosters belonging. A system that doesn’t just manage disputes but restores relationships. One that remembers that justice begins with seeing each other—not as monads or threats, but as fellow travelers, worthy of care.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
PISLAP invites you to explore this emerging conversation. You can read both reflections, The Spiritual Dimension of Due Process and The Resisters, and learn more about how a spiritually-informed approach to law can reshape not only the legal system, but our political and cultural life as well.
For more, visit www.spiritlawpolitics.org