The Classical and Christian Origins of American Politics
Political Theology, Natural Law, and the American Founding

Shows how the American founding was deeply influenced by the classical Christian natural-law tradition.

Kody W. Cooper (Author), Justin Buckley Dyer (Author)

9781009098113, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 December 2022

225 pages
23.6 x 15.8 x 2.2 cm, 0.55 kg

There has been a considerable amount of literature in the last 70 years claiming that the American founders were steeped in modern thought. This study runs counter to that tradition, arguing that the founders of America were deeply indebted to the classical Christian natural-law tradition for their fundamental theological, moral, and political outlook. Evidence for this thesis is found in case studies of such leading American founders as Thomas Jefferson and James Wilson, the pamphlet debates, the founders' invocation of providence during the revolution, and their understanding of popular sovereignty. The authors go on to reflect on how the founders' political thought contained within it the resources that undermined, in principle, the institution of slavery, and explores the relevance of the founders' political theology for contemporary politics. This timely, important book makes a significant contribution to the scholarly debate over whether the American founding is compatible with traditional Christianity.

Acknowledgements
1. Introduction: Classical and Christian origins
2. God and nature's law in the pamphlet debates
3. Thomas Jefferson, nature's God, and the theological foundations of natural-rights republicanism
4. Reason, revelation, and revolution
5. Providence and natural law in the war for independence
6. Reason, will, and popular sovereignty
7. The law of nature in James Wilson's Lectures on Law
8. Conclusion: Immanence, transcendence, and the American political order.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Religion & politics [HRAM2], Social & political philosophy [HPS], History of the Americas [HBJK]