Christian Natural Law and Religious Freedom

Deagon addresses the need for a robust theoretical foundation for religious freedom that accounts for its transcendent nature.

What is the idea of religious freedom? Where does it come from? Why should it be protected? These important questions for understanding religious freedom are usually addressed through secular and immanent foundations which are unable to sufficiently grapple with the religious nature of religious freedom – its connection with the divine. Deagon proposes an alternative approach rooted in Christian Natural Law. In Part I of the book, Deagon defines and develops Christian Natural Law, identifying three consistent themes: Love, the True and the Good. In Part II, Deagon deploys Christian Natural Law to articulate a theological framework for religious freedom which shows that religious freedom is an individual and social good, is oriented to the true and is grounded in love. In doing so, Deagon offers a new foundation for religious freedom which properly considers it as a matter of both human and divine action.

This book will be of interest to those engaged in law and religion studies, in particular scholars of religious freedom, theology and jurisprudence and human rights.