Christianity and the Laws of Conscience
An Introduction

This book explores the Christian theological, legal, constitutional, historical, and philosophical meanings of conscience for both scholarly and educated general audiences.

Jeffrey B. Hammond (Edited by), Helen M. Alvare (Edited by)

9781108835381, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 June 2021

450 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.6 cm, 0.83 kg

Conscience has long been a foundational theme in Christian ethics, but it is a notoriously slippery and contested term. This volume works to define conscience and reveal the similarities and differences between different Christian traditions' thinking on the subject. In a thorough and scholarly manner, the authors explore Christian theological, legal, constitutional, historical, and philosophical meanings of conscience. Covering a range of historical periods, major figures in the development of conscience, and contemporary applications, this book is a vital source for scholars from a wide variety of disciplines seeking to understand conscience from a range of perspectives.

Part I. Themes in Understandings of Conscience in Christianity: 1. New Testament on conscience Wendell Willis
2. Conscience and natural law in scripture David VanDrunen
3. Conscience in early Christian thought John Anthony McGuckin
4. Sensus Fidei, the magisterium, and the formation of conscience E. Christian Brugger
Part II. Conscience According to Major Figures and Traditions: 5. Conscience in the early church fathers Alexis Torrance
6. St Thomas Aquinas on conscience Cajetan Cuddy, OP
7. Reforming the conscience: magisterial reformers on the theory and practice of conscience John L. Thompson
8. Toward a theology of a redeemed conscience Jeffrey B. Hammond
9. Pierre Bayle: an enlightened alternative to John Locke Edward Andrew
10. Freedom of conscience and its right to constitutional protection: the contribution of Roger Williams David Little
11. Jonathan Edwards on conscience Michael McClymond
12. Obeying God rather than men: uneasy evangelicals, conscience, and politics Micah Watson
13. Mormonism and conscience Rosalynde Welch and Nathan B. Oman
14. Culture and conscience in the thought of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI Peter J. Casarella
Part III. Applied Topics in Law and Conscience: 15. Liberty of conscience, free exercise of religion, and the U.S. constitution Nathan S. Chapman
16. Religious conscience protections in American state constitutions Michael J. DeBoer
17. Forced conformity or accommodation? How to reconcile conscience and difference in a pluralistic democracy Mark Rienzi
18. Christian conscience and sexual expression rights Helen M. Alvaré
19. Conscience and war Joseph Capizzi
20. Institutional conscience, corporate persons, and Hobby Lobby Christopher Tollefsen
21. Religion, conscience, and the law: reasons, bases, and limits for exemptions R. Kent Greenawalt
Index.

Subject Areas: Legal ethics & professional conduct [LATC], Jurisprudence & general issues [LA], Religious ethics [HRAM1]