The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World Religions
This study examines the impact of religious norms on the development of legal systems, concentrating on the theological foundations of law in major world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The research aimed to analyse how religious principles shape legal norm...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Africajournals
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Pharos Journal of Theology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_29_106_3__june_themed_issue_vilks_et_al_final.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849689679100641280 |
|---|---|
| author | Andrejs Vilks Aldona Kipane Anatolijs Krivins |
| author_facet | Andrejs Vilks Aldona Kipane Anatolijs Krivins |
| author_sort | Andrejs Vilks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the impact of religious norms on the development of legal systems, concentrating on the theological foundations of law in major world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The research aimed to analyse how religious principles shape legal norms, state governance, and judicial practices in various countries. The study is based on a comparative legal and historical analysis of religious legal traditions and their impact on modern legal frameworks. In Islamic law, Sharia remains a primary source of legislation in many countries, regulating civil, criminal, and family matters. Jewish law, Halakha, continues to influence legal systems in Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Christian legal traditions have significantly shaped Western legal systems, mainly through canon law and moral principles embedded in state laws. Hindu law, historically rooted in the Dharmashastra texts, has influenced family and inheritance law in India, while Buddhist legal principles contribute to legal ethics and dispute resolution practices in several Asian countries. The study also identifies ongoing interactions between religious and secular legal norms, highlighting challenges in balancing religious traditions with modern human rights standards. Statistical analysis of legal systems in 30 countries demonstrates that in states where religious norms significantly influence legislation, legal frameworks tend to be more conservative, particularly in family and moral laws. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e6310dbfd6c4166a02233073d2133ee |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2414-3324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Africajournals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharos Journal of Theology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e6310dbfd6c4166a02233073d2133ee2025-08-20T03:21:32ZengAfricajournalsPharos Journal of Theology2414-33242025-05-011063https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.106.3029The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World ReligionsAndrejs Vilks0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5161-0760Aldona Kipane1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6408-3456Anatolijs Krivins2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1764-4091Faculty of Social Sciences, Riga Stradins University, Riga, LatviaFaculty of Social Sciences, Riga Stradins University, Riga, LatviaFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, LatviaThis study examines the impact of religious norms on the development of legal systems, concentrating on the theological foundations of law in major world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The research aimed to analyse how religious principles shape legal norms, state governance, and judicial practices in various countries. The study is based on a comparative legal and historical analysis of religious legal traditions and their impact on modern legal frameworks. In Islamic law, Sharia remains a primary source of legislation in many countries, regulating civil, criminal, and family matters. Jewish law, Halakha, continues to influence legal systems in Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Christian legal traditions have significantly shaped Western legal systems, mainly through canon law and moral principles embedded in state laws. Hindu law, historically rooted in the Dharmashastra texts, has influenced family and inheritance law in India, while Buddhist legal principles contribute to legal ethics and dispute resolution practices in several Asian countries. The study also identifies ongoing interactions between religious and secular legal norms, highlighting challenges in balancing religious traditions with modern human rights standards. Statistical analysis of legal systems in 30 countries demonstrates that in states where religious norms significantly influence legislation, legal frameworks tend to be more conservative, particularly in family and moral laws.https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_29_106_3__june_themed_issue_vilks_et_al_final.pdfcustomsspiritual jurisprudencedoctrinal principlesethical foundationsfaith |
| spellingShingle | Andrejs Vilks Aldona Kipane Anatolijs Krivins The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World Religions Pharos Journal of Theology customs spiritual jurisprudence doctrinal principles ethical foundations faith |
| title | The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World Religions |
| title_full | The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World Religions |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World Religions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World Religions |
| title_short | The Role of Religious Norms in the Formation of Legal Systems: The Theological Foundations of Law in Different World Religions |
| title_sort | role of religious norms in the formation of legal systems the theological foundations of law in different world religions |
| topic | customs spiritual jurisprudence doctrinal principles ethical foundations faith |
| url | https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_29_106_3__june_themed_issue_vilks_et_al_final.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrejsvilks theroleofreligiousnormsintheformationoflegalsystemsthetheologicalfoundationsoflawindifferentworldreligions AT aldonakipane theroleofreligiousnormsintheformationoflegalsystemsthetheologicalfoundationsoflawindifferentworldreligions AT anatolijskrivins theroleofreligiousnormsintheformationoflegalsystemsthetheologicalfoundationsoflawindifferentworldreligions AT andrejsvilks roleofreligiousnormsintheformationoflegalsystemsthetheologicalfoundationsoflawindifferentworldreligions AT aldonakipane roleofreligiousnormsintheformationoflegalsystemsthetheologicalfoundationsoflawindifferentworldreligions AT anatolijskrivins roleofreligiousnormsintheformationoflegalsystemsthetheologicalfoundationsoflawindifferentworldreligions |