This volume tells the story of the interaction between Christianity and law – historically and today, in the traditional heartlands of Christianity and around the world. Sixty new chapters by leading scholars provide authentic and accessible accounts of the foundational Christian teachings on law and legal thought over the past two thousand years. It assesses the current interaction and confrontation of law and Christianity across all continents, how Christianity has shaped and been shaped by core public, private, criminal, and procedural laws, the various old and new forms of ecclesiastical law, the theory of natural law, and the rules of religious freedom. The Christian teachings on the foundational principles of law and legal order and the Christian contributions to contested legal issues make it clear that Christianity and law have exerted a lasting and enduring influence on one another historically and cross-culturally, albeit with varying levels of intensity and effectiveness.

This volume broadly defines "Christianity" to include Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions as well as various religious structures and schools of thought within them. It draws inspiration from Christian ideas and institutions, rules and practices, texts, and significant figures to narrate the story of Christianity's engagement with the world of law over the past two thousand years. The volume also broadly defines "law" as the normative order of justice, authority, and freedom. The chapters examine the natural laws of conscience, reason, and the Bible, as well as the positive laws enacted by states, churches, and voluntary associations. Many chapters focus on Christian engagement with specific types of law: ecclesiastical law, family law, educational law, constitutional law, criminal law, procedural law, and the laws governing labor, taxation, contracts, torts, property, and much more. Other chapters explore contemporary legal issues such as racial justice, environmental care, immigration, euthanasia, and (bio)technology, as well as fundamental legal principles of freedom, dignity, equality, justice, equity, judgment, and solidarity.

Pages: 920, Dimensions: 18.3x18.3cm