Course Description

This course introduces students to Christian political thought and is focused on the relation between the church and secular governing authorities. Christianity’s central confession that “Christ is Lord” implied that Caesar was not, and Christians have traditionally believed that the human person created in God’s image belongs first to God, and only secondarily to the political milieu. Christians have also sought to reflect God’s coming kingdom by modeling the new humanity accomplished in Christ within secular society, remaining “in” the political world, but not “of” it. Christian reflection on politics has thus been framed both by the biblical command to “submit to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1-7), but also by the command that one must “obey God rather than human authority” (Acts 5:29). This course will introduce students to some of the most mature ancient and modern Christian reflections on politics and society. Moreover, the course aims to reflect on the concern, recently voiced by secular and religious commentators alike, that modern liberal democracy is endangered by social and technological developments. Students will be invited to consider the question of whether modern liberal democracy is–in principle–an “evangelical” form of governance that is perhaps deserving of Christian support and defense.