John Witte, Jr. is the Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law, Director of the Law and Religion Program, and Director of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion at Emory University.
Review
"Witte's provocative and deeply insightful examination...probes theological and legal sources which have commanded too little attention in past analysis of the Reformation...This book replaces earlier studies of the subject." Religious Studies Review
Summary
The Lutheran Reformation of the early sixteenth century brought about immense and far-reaching change in the structures of church and state, and in religious and secular ideas. This book investigates the relationship between the law and religious ideology in Luther's Germany, showing how they developed in response to the momentum of Lutheran teachings and influence. John Witte, Jr. argues that it is not enough to understand the Reformation in either only theological or legal terms but that a perspective is required which takes proper account of both.
Table of Contents
Foreword Martin E. Marty
Introduction
1. Canon law and civil law on the eve of the Reformation
2. Loving thine enemy's law: the evangelical conversion of Catholic canon law
3. A mighty fortress: Luther and the two-kingdoms framework
4. Perhaps jurists are good Christians after all: Lutheran theories of law, politics, and society
5. From gospel to law: the Lutheran reformation laws
6. The mother of all earthly laws: the reformation of marriage law
7. The civic seminary: the reformation of education law
Concluding reflections.
