Christianity and Criminal Law

This collection, by leading legal scholars, judges and practitioners, together with theologians and church historians, presents historical, theological, philosophical and legal perspectives on Christianity and criminal law. Following a Preface by Lord Judge, formerly Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, and an introductory chapter,the book is divided into four thematic sections. Part I addresses the historical contributions of Christianity to criminal law drawing on biblical sources, early church fathers and canonists, as far as the Enlightenment. Part II, titled Christianity and the principles of criminal law, compares crime and sin, examines concepts of mens rea and intention, and considers the virtue of due process within criminal justice. Part III looks at Christianity and criminal offences, considering their Christian origins and continuing relevance for several basic crimes that every legal system prohibits. Finally, in Part IV, the authors consider Christianity and the enforcement of criminal law, looking at defences, punishment and forgiveness. The book will be an invaluable resource for students and academics working in the areas of Law and Religion, Legal Philosophy and Theology.

Preface - Lord Judge IntroductionMark Hill QC Historical Contributions of Christianity to Criminal Law Criminal Law in the Old Testament: Homicide, the Problem of Mens Rea, and God Brent A. Strawn Conflicting Criminal Jurisdictions in Early ChristianityMarkus Bockmuehl Crime and the Canon Law R. H. Helmholz Retaliation: Christian Reasons for Punishment: An overviewMathias Schmoeckel Christianity and the Liberal Enlightenment Reforms of Criminal Law Heikki Pihlajamäki Christianity and the Principles of Criminal Law The Nature of Sin and Crime: Spiritual and Civil Jurisdictions ComparedNorman Doe Christianity, Mens Rea and the Boundaries of Criminal LiabilityDavid McIlroy Christianity, Human Dignity and Due ProcessPeter Collier QC Christianity and Criminal Offences Christianity and Crimes Against the State Nathan S. Chapman Christianity and Offences Against the Person David Etherington QC Law Like Love Like Language: The Christian Uses of Property CrimeJohn F. Stinneford Crimes against God and the ChurchJeroen Temperman Sex Crimes and ChristianityJohn Witte, Jr. Attempts, Complicity, Virtue and the Limits of the Law Richard W. Garnett Christianity and the Enforcement of Criminal Law Defences: Justification, Excuse and ProvocationChloë Kennedy Punishment, Forgiveness, and MercyJeffrie Murphy Christian Virtue and PardonsAlbert W. Alschuler Parole, Risk Assessment of Offenders and ChristianitySir John Saunders Judicial Punishment in Transitional Justice: A Christian Restorative ApproachDaniel Philpott The Weight of Judgment Nathan S. Chapman

Mark Hill QC practises from Chambers in the Inner Temple, London, and is Associate Professor at Cardiff University, UK; the University of Pretoria, South Africa; King's College London, UK; and Notre Dame University Law School, Sydney, Australia. Norman Doe is Professor of Law at Cardiff University, UK,and Director of its Centre for Law and Religion. RH Helmholz is the Ruth Wyatt Rosenson Distinguished Service Professor of Law at the University of Chicago, USA. John Witte, Jr. is Woodruff University Professor of Law, McDonald Distinguished Professor of Religion and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University, USA.