Law and Protestantism: The Legal Teachings of the Lutheran Reformation

Description

The Lutheran Reformation of the early sixteenth century brought about immense and far-reaching change in the structures of church and state, and in religious and secular ideas. This book investigates the relationship between the law and religious ideology in Luther's Germany, showing how they developed in response to the momentum of Lutheran teachings and influence. John Witte, Jr. argues that it is not enough to understand the Reformation in either only theological or legal terms but that a perspective is required which takes proper account of both.

John Witte, Jr. is the Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law and Ethics, Director of the Law and Religion Program, and Director of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion at Emory University, Atlanta. A specialist in legal history and religious liberty, he has published 100 professional articles, and 12 books, including Religious Human Rights in Global Perspective, 2 vols. (1996); From Sacrament to Contract: Marriage, Religion, and Law in the Western Tradition (1997); Proselytism and Orthodoxy in Russia (1999) and Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment (2000). Professor Witte's writings have appeared in German, French, Italian, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Romanian translations. He has lectured throughout North America, Western Europe, Israel, and South Africa.

'This book breaks new ground ... succeeds in mastering the daunting task of tracing the link between law and theology in the Lutheran Reformation ... The task is accomplished with solid scholarship, presented in an engaging literary style.' Theology Today 'Reformation scholars of all kinds will find this a most stimulating and rewarding study, for which the author is to be thanked and congratulated.' The Journal of Ecclesiastical History '... carefully researched and illuminating volume ... for the general legal historian, and for those reflecting on how far religious conviction still finds an echo in modern law, Law and Protestantism renders impressive service.' Ecclesiastical Law Journal 'Undoubtedly the book by John Witte Junior is an extremely erudite and thorough analysis of the legal teachings of the Lutheran Reformation. I have learnt an enormous amount from reading it and highly recommend it to both lawyers and theologians who are interested in the Reformation and indeed thinking about the links between law and theology.' Evangelical Quarterly