Christian Political Thought

Catalog description

Taught by JST. An historical and textual examination of Catholic and Protestant approaches to life in political society. Themes include love and power, loyalty and universalism, equality and hierarchy, reason and revelation, law and authority, sovereignty and justice. Besides some secondary literature to provide a central narrative of political thought within Western Christianity, we will read short selections from numerous figures who contributed to (or challenged) Christian reflection on politics, including: Patristic figures, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Luther, Calvin, social contract theorists, Burke, Wesley, John Ryan, Rauschenbusch, Weber, Maritain, Reinhold Niebuhr, John Courtney Murray, and contemporary political theologians. Expect a combination of lecture, seminar format and student presentations. Requirements will be tailored for students in any masters or doctoral program.