Christianity and Natural Law An Introduction Law and Christianity Series

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.

Preface Norman Doe; 1. Natural law and Christianity: a brief history R. H. Helmholz; 2. Natural law in the Roman Catholic tradition Helen Costigane; 3. Natural law in the Orthodox tradition Paul Babie; 4. Natural law in the Anglican tradition Will Adam; 5. Natural law in the Lutheran tradition Antti Raunio; 6. Natural law in the Methodist tradition John A. Harrod; 7. Natural law in the Reformed tradition Mary Anne Plaatjies van Huffel; 8. Natural law in the Baptist tradition Paul Goodliff; 9. Natural law in the Ecumenical movement Leo J. Koffeman; 10. Natural law in an interfaith context: the Abrahamic religions Norman Doe; 11. Natural law and philosophical presuppositions Owen Anderson; 12. Towards a jurisprudence of Christian law Russell Sandberg.

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).