The Teachings of Modern Roman Catholicism on Law, Politics, and Human Nature [Hardcover]

John Witte Jr. (Editor), Frank S. Alexander (Editor), Russell Hittinger (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0231142609 | ISBN-13: 978-0231142601 | Publication Date: July 31, 2007

The Teachings of Modern Roman Catholicism on Law, Politics, and Human Nature examines how modern Catholic thinkers have answered the most pressing political, legal, and ethical questions of our time. It discusses the enduring teachings of important Catholic intellectuals of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Leading contemporary scholars analyze these thinkers' views on the nature and purpose of law and authority, the limits of rule and obedience, the care of the needy and innocent, the ethics of war and violence, and the separation of church and state, among other themes. A diverse and powerful portrait of Catholic legal and political thought, this volume underscores the various ways Catholic intellectuals have shaped modern debates over the family, the state, religion, and society. The book focuses on the writings of Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903); Jacques Maritain (1882-1973); John Courtney Murray (1904-1967); Pope John XXIII (1881-1963); Gustavo Gutièrrez (b. 1928); Dorothy Day (1897-1980); and Pope John Paul II (1920-2005).

Editorial Reviews

Review

Rarely have the riches of modern theology and theological anthropology been so incisively analyzed for their insights into the fundamentals of our modern political condition.

(Jean Bethke Elshtain, University of Chicago )

A useful resource and a powerful inspiration.

(Rebecca S. Chopp, President, Colgate University; Former President, American Academy of Religion )

Crisp, informative, even-handed, and, above all, interesting. It is a joy to learn what riches there are in modern times in the major Christian traditions.

(Robert N. Bellah, University of California, Berkeley )

An indispensable volume for theologians, philosophers, jurists, and political theorists.

(First Things )

About the Author

John Witte Jr. is the Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. He has published 120 articles and 20 books, including Law and Protestantism: The Legal Teachings of the Lutheran Reformation and The Reformation of Rights: Law, Religion, and Human Rights in Early Modern Calvinism. Frank S. Alexander is Professor of Law and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. He has published a dozen volumes, including The Weightier Matters of the Law: Essays on Law and Religion.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 536 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (July 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231142609
• ISBN-13: 978-0231142601
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,247,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Witte, Jr. is Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law, Alonzo L. McDonald
Distinguished Professor, and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and
Religion Center at Emory University. A specialist in legal history, marriage law, and religious liberty, he has published 180 articles, 13 journal symposia, and 24 books.

Professor Witte's writings have appeared in ten languages, and he has lectured
and convened conferences through North America, Western and Eastern
Europe, Japan, Israel, and South Africa. With major funding from the Pew, Ford,Lilly, Luce, and McDonald foundations, he has directed 12 major international projects on democracy, human rights, and religious liberty, and on marriage, family, and children. These projects have collectively yielded more than 160 new volumes and 250 public forums around the world. He edits two major book series, "Studies in Law and Religion," and "Religion, Marriage and Family." He has been selected ten times by the Emory law students as the Most Outstanding Professor and has won dozens of other awards and prizes for his teaching and research.

Professor Witte is married to Eliza Ellison. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential collection on this topic, June 13, 2009

By 

Tom J. Bushlack (South Bend, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Teachings of Modern Roman Catholicism on Law, Politics, and Human Nature (Paperback)

The readings are well-selected, and represent an excellent overview of modern to contemporary Catholic thought on this topic. The introductory essays that come before each new thinker's writings would be perfect for use in a college level course on this topic. Finally, Russell Hittinger's introduction to modern Catholic social thought is worth the entire price of the book alone. This whole series (including the Protestant and Orthodox versions) coming out of Emory are excellent resources.