An Essay on the Connections Between Law and Religion
In addressing this subject I shall be concerning myself with certain aspects of the vocation of the lawyer and of the theologian. I say certain aspects advisedly. Undoubtedly, a thorough study of the various relationships and comparisons between religion and law could not be satisfactorily dealt wit...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
1984
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In: |
Journal of law and religion
Year: 1984, Volume: 2, Issue: 1, Pages: 7-39 |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | In addressing this subject I shall be concerning myself with certain aspects of the vocation of the lawyer and of the theologian. I say certain aspects advisedly. Undoubtedly, a thorough study of the various relationships and comparisons between religion and law could not be satisfactorily dealt with in anything short of a multi-volume treatise. What follows is a hodge-podge of some law-and-religion features and issues which I have selected primarily for what I hope to be their interest to members of the clergy. I shall be dealing with: (1) some general aspects of the relationship between law and religion; (2) the law's definition of religion; (3) fundamental law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and (4) legal and scriptural interpretation.Before embarking on this course, I should mention that the resort to scripture in the various vicissitudes of life is, of course, commonplace and that the resourceful mind is capable of finding useful precedents in the most unlikely parts of the Bible. Sometimes precedents drawn from the Bible may have cogent negative effect. It appears that the famous 18th century English judge, Lord Mansfield, paid little attention to religious holidays. During one sittings of his court at the end of Lent he proposed that the court would sit on Good Friday. An account of what happened is as follows: "Sergeant Davy [one of the counsel in the case] … bowed in acceptance of the proposition. ‘If your lordship pleases; but your lordship will be the first judge that has done so since Pontius Pilate.’ The court adjourned until Saturday." |
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ISSN: | 2163-3088 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of law and religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/1051031 |