Christianity and Natural Law: An Introduction

Description

Historically, natural law has played a pivotal role in Christian approaches to the law, and a contested role in legal philosophy generally. However, comparative study of natural law across global Christian traditions is largely neglected. This book provides not only the history of natural law ideas across mainstream Christian traditions worldwide, but also an ecumenical comparison of the contemporary natural law positions of different traditions. Its focus is not solely theoretical: it tests the practical utility of natural law by exploring its use in the legal systems of the churches studied. Alongside analysis of the assumptions underlying the concept, it also proposes a jurisprudence of Christian law itself. With chapters written by distinguished lawyers and theologians across the world, this book is designed for those studying and teaching law or theology, those who practice and study ecumenism, and those involved in the practice of church law.

Norman Doe is a professor and director of the LL.M. in Canon Law at Cardiff University Law School. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Paris and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium and Chancellor of the Diocese of Bangor. His books include Fundamental Authority in Late Medieval English Law (1990), Canon Law in the Anglican Communion (1998), Law and Religion in Europe (2011) and Christian Law (2013).

'... the volume's topic and goal are laudable, and the result is a useful entry point into the multiconfessional nature of Christian natural law thought.' Journal of Markets & Morality '... the treatment of the importance of natural law in the theology of John Calvin and its subsequent reception and revival, filtered through Karl Barth, is of great benefit for understanding recent reformed interest in natural law. For all of those outside these traditions, and perhaps even those within them with an interest in natural law, these chapters could be immensely helpful in tracking the broader reception of natural law in the Protestant theological tradition.' Gideon Barr, Reading Religion