God's Joust, God's Justice: Law and Religion in the Western Tradition (Emory University Studies in Law and Religion (EUSLR))

As players in the drama of human society, we are only dimly aware of the whole sweep of the story. While savage excess occasionally prevails, we still struggle to reflect God's image and order in our societies.Using law and religion as a pair of lenses, John Witte expertly surveys the stormy yet lush landscape of the western tradition. After a concise history of rights in the west, he then focuses on a diverse yet coherent series of landmarks, from Luther's "Freedom of a Christian" to contemporary Russian religious freedom, from battles over the First Amendment to the ongoing importance of marriage. Throughout, Witte's reflections center on the constant tension between religion and law, between church and state. God's Joust, God's Justice" provides a clear vista of the debates over law and religion in the west, enabling readers to competently proceed towards a more integrated understanding of these foundational elements of western democracy.