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Christianity and Criminal Law

Coeditor, Christianity and Criminal Law (Routledge and CRC Press, 2020) (with Mark Hill, Norman Doe and R. H. Helmholz)

Description

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 an Introduction by Lord Judge, formerly Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, 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 the Christian origins and their 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.

Table of Contents​

  • Preface – Lord Judge of Draycote

  1.    Introduction – Mark Hill QC

Historical Contributions of Christianity to Criminal Law
  2.   Criminal Law in the Old Testament: Homicide, the Problem of
        Mens Rea, and God – Brent A. Strawn
  3.   Conflicting Criminal Jurisdictions in Early Christianity – Markus
        Bockmuehl

  4.   Crime and the Canon Law – R. H. Helmholz
  5.   Retaliation: Christian Reasons for Punishment: An overview
         – Mathias Schmoeckel
  6.   Christianity and the Liberal Enlightenment Reforms of Criminal
        Law – Heikki Pihlajamäki 

Christianity and the Principles of Criminal Law
  7.   The Nature of Sin and Crime: Spiritual and Civil Jurisdictions
        Compared – Norman Doe
  8.   Christianity, Mens Rea and the Boundaries of Criminal Liability
        – David McIlroy
  9.   Christianity, Human Dignity and Due Process – Peter Collier QC 

Christianity and Criminal Offences
  10.  Christianity and Crimes Against the State – Nathan S. Chapman
  11.  Christianity and Offences Against the Person – David Etherington
         QC

  12.  Law Like Love Like Language: The Christian Uses of Property
         Crime – John F. Stinneford
  13.  Crimes against God and the Church – Jeroen Temperman
  14.  Sex Crimes and Christianity – John Witte, Jr.
  15.  Attempts, Complicity, Virtue and the Limits of the Law – Richard
        W. Garnett


Christianity and the Enforcement of Criminal Law
  16.  Defences: Justification, Excuse and Provocation – Chloë
​         Kennedy

  17.  Punishment, Forgiveness, and Mercy – Jeffrie Murphy
  18.  Christian Virtue and Pardons – Albert W. Alschuler
  19.  Parole, Risk Assessment of Offenders and Christianity – Sir John
         Saunders

  20.  Judicial Punishment in Transitional Justice: A Restorative Justice
         Approach – Daniel Philpott
  21.  The Weight of Judgment – Nathan S. Chapman

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