Table of Contents

Introduction John Witte, Jr.; 1. Law and religion in Judaism David Novak; 2. Law in early Christianity Luke Timothy Johnson; 3. Western canon law R. H. Helmholz; 4. Natural law and natural rights Brian Tierney; 5. Conscientious objection, civil disobedience, and resistance Kent Greenawalt; 6. The Christian sources of general contract law Harold J. Berman; 7. Proof, procedure, and evidence Mathias Schmoeckel; 8. Family law and Christian jurisprudence Don S. Browning; 9. Poverty, charity and social welfare Brian S. Pullan; 10. Property and Christian theology Frank S. Alexander; 11. Christian love and criminal punishment Jeffrie G. Murphy; 12. Christianity and human rights Michael J. Perry; 13. Religious liberty David Little; 14. Modern church law Norman Doe; 15. Religious organizations and the state: the laws of ecclesiastical polity and the civil courts William Bassett; 16. Christianity and the large scale corporation David A. Skeel, Jr.

Promotional Information

An authoritative introduction to some of the main legal teachings of the Western Christian tradition.

About the Author

John Witte, Jr is Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. His many publications include The Reformation of Rights: Law, Religion and Human Rights in Early Modern Calvinism (2007) and Law and Protestantism: The Legal Teachings of the Lutheran Reformation (2002). Frank S. Alexander is Professor of Law and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. He is co-editor with John Witte Jr. of The Teachings of Modern Christianity on Law, Politics and Human Nature (2006).

Reviews

'This volume provides an authoritative introduction to some of the legal teachings of Western Christian tradition - as set out in the texts and traditions of Scripture and theology, philosophy and jurisprudence. … there will be few readers who do not come away having learned more and having been inspired to think more deeply on the past and continuing impact of Christianity on the law.' Ecclesiastical Law Journal

'The editors are to be congratulated in bringing together within a single cover material which is authoritative, incisive and provocative. I anticipate that this volume will soon find itself on the bookshelves of law school libraries and theological colleges alike, and it will readily take its place as the first port of call on reading lists across a broad range of subjects …' Ecclesiology

'… 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