Religion and Political Thought

Michael Hoelzl is Lecturer in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Manchester, UK. Graham Ward is Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford and a Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, UK.

'This timely anthology is more than just a rounding up of the usual suspects.  Although the indispensable classic texts in political theology are here, they are joined by both classic "secular" political voices and some provocative new contemporary voices who work on the edge of politics and religion.  The editors' introductions and the texts themselves blur the lines between the temporal and the spiritual in helpful ways.  If the world is not simply advancing toward greater secularization, it may be because the "secular" itself is a kind of "religion."  This book is a tremendous resource for exploring such a world.' William T. Cavanaugh, Associate Professor of Theology, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, USA

• AcknowledgementsGeneral IntroductionSection I: The Division of Christ's political body 1. AugustineIntroductionExcerpt from City of God 2. AquinasIntroductionExcerpt from De Regno 3. DanteIntroductionExcerpt from De Monarchia 4. LutherIntroductionExcerpts from Address to the German Noblemen & On the Misuse of Secular Power SECTION II: The Legitimation of Sovereign Power 5. MachiavelliIntroductionExcerpt from The Discourses 6. King James VI/IIntroductionExcerpt from The True Law of Free Monarchies 7. HobbesIntroductionExcerpt from Leviathan