1 - Introduction

Summary

Recent scholars have argued that the American founding represents a decisive departure from the classical Christian natural-law tradition. In contrast, the thematic chapters in this volume argue that the background assumptions of American public life during the founding were derived from and compatible with the classical Christian natural-law tradition that developed from the long engagement of Christianity with classical political philosophy, hitting its highwater mark in medeival scholasticisim and retaining its influence through the dominant theological traditions in the North American colonies.