Spheres of Sovereignty: Church Autonomy Doctrine and the Theological Heritage of the Separation of Church and State

36 Pages Posted: 30 Oct 2009

See all articles by Robert Joseph Renaud

Robert Joseph Renaud

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Lael Daniel Weinberger

Stanford Constitutional Law Center

Date Written: October 28, 2009

Abstract

This article begins by examining the theological underpinnings of the concept of separation of church and state. Second, it proceeds to review the church-history context in which this theology was developed. It focuses especially on the Protestant Reformation’s concept of independent jurisdictions of church and state, and how that perspective influenced the American view of church and state. Finally, it suggests that the historic theological position on the jurisdictional separation of church and state is reflected today in the church autonomy cases.

Keywords: Separation of church and state, theology, history, church autonomy, Reformation

Suggested Citation

Renaud, Robert Joseph and Weinberger, Lael Daniel, Spheres of Sovereignty: Church Autonomy Doctrine and the Theological Heritage of the Separation of Church and State (October 28, 2009). Northern Kentucky Law Review, Vol. 35, No. 1, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1495814

Robert Joseph Renaud (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Lael Daniel Weinberger

Stanford Constitutional Law Center ( email )

559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
United States

HOME PAGE: http://about.me/laelweinberger

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