Introduction
Section 1: Christianity and Politics
Section 2: The Establishment Principle
Section 3: The Function of the State
Section 4: The Secular State and Persecution
Section 5: Conclusion
Excursus – Definition of Terms
Section 1: Church
Section 2: Religion
Section 3: Politics, Political, Political Sphere, Political Realm
Section 4: State, Civil Government, Magistrate
Section 5: Multiculturalism
Section 6: World-View

Introduction Section 1: Christianity and Politics Section 2: The Establishment Principle Section 3: The Function of the State Section 4: The Secular State and Persecution Section 5: Conclusion Excursus – Definition of Terms Section 1: Church Section 2: Religion Section 3: Politics, Political, Political Sphere, Political Realm Section 4: State, Civil Government, Magistrate Section 5: Multiculturalism Section 6: World-View

Chapter 1

According to Augustine of Hippo, “True justice has no existence save in that republic whose founder and ruler is Christ.” Augustine went on to spell out in no uncertain terms what this means for a proper understanding of the nature and authority of governments: “Justice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms? The band itself is made up of men; it is ruled by the authority of a prince, it is knit together by the pact of the confederacy; the booty is divided by the law agreed on. If, by the admittance of abandoned men, this evil increases to such a degree that it holds places, fixes abodes, takes possession of cities, and subdues peoples, it assumes the more plainly the name of a kingdom, because the reality is now manifestly conferred on it, not by the removal of covetousness, but by the addition of impunity. Indeed, that was an apt and true reply which was given to Alexander the Great by a pirate who had been seized. For when that king had asked the man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, he answered with bold pride, ‘What thou meanest by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled emperor’ ” (City of God, Bk. II.21, IV.4).

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1