Natural Law: Five Views

by Andrew T. Walker (Editor), Ryan T. Anderson (editor), Joel D. Biermann (contributor)

The story of "natural law" - the idea that God has written a law on the human heart so that ethical norms derive from human nature - in twentieth-century Protestant ethics is one of rejection and resurgence. For half a century, luminaries like Karl Barth, Carl F. H. Henry, and Cornelius Van Til cast a shadow over natural law moral reflection because of its putative link to natural theology, autonomous reason, associations with Catholic theology, and ethical witness devoid of special revelation. However, over the past twenty years, Protestant theologians have renewed their interest in the subject, often animated by debates on Christian involvement in the public arena and on matters of life, death, and gender and sexuality. Much of this engagement has happened within Reformed circles and has largely been conducted without reference to Roman Catholic construals of the natural law. Conversely, Catholic developments in natural law thinking have paid little attention to the surge of interest on the Protestant side. As a result, Protestant and Catholic natural proponents - and even those skeptical of the natural law - are not in conversation with one another.

The lack of dialog between the various schools of natural law has left a historic tradition within Christan moral thought underdeveloped in contemporary Protestant theology. By bringing together a variety of perspectives in much-needed conversation, this book helps readers to understand the various construals of natural law within the broader strands of Christian and classical traditions and clarifies its unique importance for Christian moral witness in a secular culture. The contributors address the following

What is natural law?Can moral norms be derived from immanent, creaturely ends? If so, how specific or action-guiding can those norms be? How extensive might these moral norms be?How does natural law endure despite Christian insistence on the noetic, epistemological effects of sin?What is the relationship between Christian reflection on natural law and the broader classical tradition's understanding of natural law?How do Catholic and Protestant construals of natural law differ?What is the relationship between faith and reason?What's the relationship between human nature and natural law?Does "natural law" "secular moral reasons"? Or is "natural law" merely religious belief disguised as public reason?How does natural law relate to public reason?Does the affirmation of a "natural law" lead to a natural theology? Or are these distinct?What is the relationship between natural law and the laws of nature?Five

Classical Natural Law - Michael PakalukNew Natural Law - Melissa MoschellaReformed Natural Law - W. Bradford LittlejohnLutheran Natural Law - Joel D. BiermanAnti-Natural Law - Peter J. Leithart

Genres: Christian

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2025

Reviews

[Richard Lawrence]

Well I'd like to join Biermann and Littlejohn on that beach trip ;)

The Five views format has strengths and weaknesses it's a quick sample of a range of ideas it is not a sufficient exploration of any of them. Whilst there are helpful insights here I do think most christians will be better served with an Introduction to Natural law than with this debate book.

However of course not everyone is ready to embrace Natural law and this may help some people take that step; conversely for others it may help you see and work through some of the objections and difficulties that have been raised. To survey the field or to merely dip your toes into the debates around the nature and use of Natural Law this is a helpful book, it is well written, readable and engaging.

Each contributor was asked to give an introductory essay to their theory of natural law, short responses to the other 4 contributors essays and then a "rejoinder" responding to the responses.

Pakaluk's "Classical" Natural Law introduction focussing on what nature teaches of how man should live and Littlejohn's "Reformed" Natural Law introduction focussing on how Natural Law should fit into theology (including the three fold division of the law and three fold use of the law and example applications) are the most helpful and - bluntly - the truest chapters.

Biermann's chapter on "Lutheran" Natural Law was interesting and insightful in places - it's helpful e.g. to consider how Natural Law in a sense comes to us refracted through the law codes of our nations and is indeed the same law that is summarised in the decalogue; it's origin in nature (i.e. creation) ensures that it applies to all. That said where Biermann really shone was in his responses, he highlighted interesting points to consider in each of the other essays.

I'm largely unimpressed with Moschella's "New" Natural Law that seeks to define morality in terms of a short list of "basic goods" that cannot be prioritised, she made some good points but Pakaluk's critique was insightful, as was reading the sections of Aquinas she referenced in their context. The broader "classic" vision is more powerful and more defensible.

Leithart's "Anti-Natural law" was a riveting read though I think he misreads Aquinas and his approach basically relies on the assertion that Nature does not witness in any discernible way. Nothing is revealed in Creation that can be seen without Scripture telling us. The world is all subjectivity until you read the Bible. I think this approach actually owes more to Kant than the Bible; additionally as it collapses Nature into nothing leaving only Grace it seems to implicitly collapse Law into Gospel and perhaps turn he Gospel into a Law, a point raised by Biermann.
Also it was very disappointing bad form that he did not respond to the responses but rather used his "rejoinder" to make further arguments against natural law that the other contributors then had no opportunity to respond to; I was intrigued to see his answers to the critiques and it was disappointing that he didn't even try.

[Jason Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought and read this book because one of my favorite theologians, Peter Leithart, is a contributor.

The book is written in the format in which a single essayist delivers an essay defending his or her view of natural law; each of the others has a chance to critique the essay, and then the original author is afforded a response-to-the-responses.

There are five points presented:

- The Classical View
- The New View
- The Lutheran View
- The Reformed View
- Against Natural Law

Peter's essay is the last, and though he might not appreciate it, I would argue that he isn't really against natural law, but against many of its misuses and abuses.

Though each of the essayists responded critically to each of the others, some of the distinctions are rather academic, in my humble layman's opinion--an opinion shared by some of of them in their review of their erstwhile "opponents."

Worth reading for those interested in the subject.

[Lianna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rousing work. I principally find myself aligned with the anti–natural law mindset, yet I wanted to venture into other arenas of thought—especially since I had Dr. Walker as a professor at SBTS, where he gave a lively commendation of natural law in class. This book provided the perfect opportunity to do so.