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Rating: 
Summary: Missing a third of the Reformation
Review: Of course, Luther and Calvin account for the majority of the reformation, and the O'Donovon's do a fine job of bringing them to life (as much as one can say that about Calvin). However, this text makes references to Anabaptists without giving them 'equal time.' Of course, they should not expect this pacifist and somewhat isolationist sect to raise a stink over being left out (in fact they would probably be in favor of maintaining a low profile), but it is intellectually incomplete. What is there, however, is excellent.
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Summary: Uncovering the Christian roots of Western constitutionalism
Review: Oliver O'Donovan, a Brit, and Joan Lockwood O'Donovan, born and raised a Canuck, of Christ Church College, Oxford, do a tremendous service to our understanding of the West's pre-Enlightenment constitutional tradition.Political theorists and philosophers seemed to suffer an epidemic of historical and philosophical amnesia beginning about the 17th century with Hobbes, Locke, et al. Although their writings clearly rely on some sixteen centuries of thought with respect to political authority in the Christian tradition, 17th-c. theorists and on give little hint of the extent of their claiming the ideas of "dual (or plural) authority" and the rule of law as developed in western Christendom. With selected excerpts from early church father Irenaeus to father of modern constitutionalism Grotius, the O'Donovans trace this development from an early church in tension (and persecution) with the sacralist Roman state; through the power struggles between church and imperial, and church and feudal authorities; and the development of Lutheran and Calvinist theories of resistance vis a vis 16th-c. absolutist theories of the divine right of kings. Far from its being an invention or child of the Enlightenment, the O'Donovans make clear the West's tradition of plural authority and consitutionalism was delivered to Enlightenment theorists as a mature creature which continues to inform and instruct Western constitutional thought to the present, albeit far too little.
Rating:
Summary: Politics à la Male, Christian Fanatics
Review: This collection truly is indispensable to anyone interested in the Christian tradition of political theology. A vast array of sources-many of which are quite inconvenient to obtain-are placed at the fingertips of anyone interested. Additionally, the authors distinguish their collection with numerous erudite, probing essays preceding each collection and author. These not only provide historical context but also the outlines of modern scholarly debate. Also, for further reference, bibliographies are concluded. In a word, it is a 'sourcebook' par excellance. There are omissions, as is the case with all collections; however, this does not detract from the overall utility of the collection.
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