Christianity and Law: An Introduction

What impact has Christianity had on the law from its beginnings to the present day? This introduction explores the main legal teachings of Western Christianity, set out in the texts and traditions of scripture and theology, philosophy and jurisprudence. It takes up the weightier matters of the law that Christianity has profoundly shaped - justice and mercy, rule and equity, discipline and love - as well as more technical topics of canon law, natural law, and state law. Some of these legal creations were wholly original to Christianity. Others were converted from Jewish and classical traditions. Still others were reformed by Renaissance humanists and Enlightenment philosophers. But whether original or reformed, these Christian teachings on law, politics and society have made and can continue to make fundamental contributions to modern law in the West and beyond.

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).