The Classical and Christian Origins of American Politics: Political Theology, Natural Law, and the American Founding

by Kody W Cooper, Justin Buckley Dyer

There has been a considerable amount of literature in the last 70 years claiming that the American founders were steeped in modern thought. This study runs counter to that tradition, arguing that the founders of America were deeply indebted to the classical Christian natural-law tradition for their fundamental theological, moral, and political outlook. Evidence for this thesis is found in case studies of such leading American founders as Thomas Jefferson and James Wilson, the pamphlet debates, the founders' invocation of providence during the revolution, and their understanding of popular sovereignty. The authors go on to reflect on how the founders' political thought contained within it the resources that undermined, in principle, the institution of slavery, and explores the relevance of the founders' political theology for contemporary politics. This timely, important book makes a significant contribution to the scholarly debate over whether the American founding is compatible with traditional Christianity.

Genres: Politics, History, Religion, Philosophy, American History, Christianity

225 pages, Hardcover

Published December 15, 2022

Reviews

[Lance Kinzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent. I’ve been reading and thinking a great deal about the basic issues raised in this book and found it among the most helpful resources I’ve come across. I’d suggest pairing it with David VanDrunen’s Divine Covenants and Moral Order.

[William Conte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dense and academic! Not for the faint of heart. Intended for an academic audience.

[Evan Þ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this dive into the Founding Fathers' philosophy, tracing its dependence on theistic and often Christian principles. This's true both logically - their arguments for independence and natural rights usually depend on the existence of God - and historically - their arguments trace back to Christian philosophical traditions.

Cooper explains the history of natural law theology very engrossingly, steps through several individuals' philosophy in detail (from Locke through Franklin to Jefferson) tracing their Christian dependence, and lays out some fascinating letters from the Continental Congress (which I hadn't before seen) talking about God's providence in the Revolutionary War in specific detail.

Cooper doesn't argue about the orthodoxy of the Founders' faith; he specifically disclaims that question. As he says, the Founders majored on natural law theology - arguing mostly from reason, not from revelation. Nor does he go into every individual; he focuses on the broad philosophical tradition.