Books by Simon P Kennedy
Edinburgh University Press, 2022
Attached are uncorrected page proofs from the front matter.
Book forthcoming with Lexham Press
Articles by Simon P Kennedy
European Journal of Political Theory (forthcoming)
English Historical Review (forthcoming)
Australian Journal of Politics and History, 2024
Co-authored with Ben Saunders
The historiography of the political concept of virtue has been d... more Co-authored with Ben Saunders
The historiography of the political concept of virtue has been dominated by examinations of western European and North American sources. This article aims to widen the historical scope for our understanding of the influence of the concept of political virtue by examining how Anglophone conceptions of virtue were employed by the framers of the Australian Constitution during the Federation debates and the impact of those conceptions on the Constitution itself. It examines the strands of thought that provided the backdrop for the colonial adoption of the Victorian-era British conception of political virtue, subsequently showing how the Australian constitutional framers adopted these languages and concepts in their own writings and speeches. The Australian framers were concerned with the virtue of both the people and their political leaders, applying this concern in their contributions to legal and political discourse in the latter part of the nineteenth century. However, rather than a direct transfer of the more typical languages of republican virtue, the colonial context examined here offers evidence of a shift of emphasis from virtue into the concept of “character”. The framers demonstrated an interest in the question of character as they wrote and deliberated around the constitutional problems of political parties, bicameralism, and responsible government. So, too, they showed an acute concern for the importance of character in their institutional designs for a future federal commonwealth. This article demonstrates that the framers existed within the tradition of thought which held virtue, or character, to be central to the vitality of the polity, and that the framers adapted that language in their deliberations and the institutional design of the Constitution.
Church History, 2024
This paper explores the origins of two different emergences of the Christian worldview concept, a... more This paper explores the origins of two different emergences of the Christian worldview concept, and their relationship to understandings of cultural conflict. It will offer an analysis of the historical, cultural, and theological context for each emergence. In both cases, worldview was what Ian Hunter has termed a “combat concept.” Section I of the paper will offer an overview of the origins of Christian worldview thinking in the late nineteenth century through the thought of James Orr (1844–1913) and Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920). Section II will deal with the second major emergence of Christian worldview as a combat concept in the 1970s, focusing on figures like Francis Schaeffer (1912–1984), Chuck Colson (1931–2012), and Nancy Pearcy (1951–). Both contexts exhibited increased cultural and religious pluralism, and conservative Christians displayed a heightened sense of ideological conflict. Worldview became a tool for differentiation from, and contention with, the “other.”
Journal of Reformed Theology (forthcoming)
Writing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Herman Bavinck’s theology emerged i... more Writing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Herman Bavinck’s theology emerged in an environment drenched in philosophies of history. This consciousness of history as a vital philosophical locus filtered its way into Bavinck’s writings in several ways. This paper seeks to fill a gap in Bavinck studies by providing an overview of his philosophy of history. Section I on Bavinck’s view of history as a science (wetenschap), deals with his understanding of the historian, periodization, and the role of judgment in history. Section II will address Bavinck’s treatment of the relationship between God, God’s providence, and history. Section III will investigate his view of the telos of history, and the essential role of Christ in giving shape to history. Bavinck’s historical thought offers an example of the way that conservative Reformed theologians could adapt idealist philosophies of history to address challenges to the confessional theological task.
Journal of Religious History, 2022
This article examines three leading representatives of magisterial Protestantism who based their ... more This article examines three leading representatives of magisterial Protestantism who based their doctrines of political obligation on the fifth commandment of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–29). These expositions and applications of the fifth commandment exemplify the early magisterial Protestant interpretation of the command to “honor your father and mother.” In each case, the content and context of these texts paint a picture where these theological theories of obligation were handmaids to the practical centralisation of coercive power in the state during the early modern period. This centralisation of power occurred through what Gerhard Oestreich called Sozialdisziplinierung, or social discipline. We will sample one leading thinker from each of the Lutheran (Martin Luther (1483–1546)), English Reformed (William Tyndale (1494–1536)), and continental Reformed (John Calvin (1509–1564)) traditions to demonstrate broad consistency across the magisterial Protestant movement during its early decades. This article will further show that it was not simply theories of resistance that set up the foundations for the modern western conception of political authority. Theological theories of obedience also made a substantial contribution and are not as archaic or irrelevant to the story of modern politics as might be imagined.
Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 2020
Access here: https://academic.oup.com/ojls/article/40/3/591/5909123?guestAccessKey=e2167b3f-d600-... more Access here: https://academic.oup.com/ojls/article/40/3/591/5909123?guestAccessKey=e2167b3f-d600-44f9-83c5-1d876552fc37
(Co-authored with Benjamin B Saunders)
Constitutions are products of an alien culture. Constitutions are also ‘instruments of government’ and must be relevant to serve the needs of modern society. How ought we to reconcile the competing pressures that arise from the nature of a document that is at one and the same time a historical artefact and an instrument of contemporary government? We propose an answer modelled on the ‘Cambridge method’ of textual interpretation, whereby a constitution must first be considered as a historical text, on its own terms, without regard to today’s controversies. We argue that the best way of understanding a constitution is to take account of its historical context, and that meaning derived in this way ought to be the starting point when considering the provisions of the constitution. However, we consider that the historical context need not be determinative of the contemporary meaning of the constitution, and so departures from that meaning may be appropriate in some situations.
Journal of Markets and Morality, 2019
One of the key terms in the enormous "Politica Methodice Digesta, Atque Exemplis
Sacris et Profa... more One of the key terms in the enormous "Politica Methodice Digesta, Atque Exemplis
Sacris et Profanis Illustrata" of Johannes Althusius (1557–1638) is consociatio.
This word has been translated into English a number of different ways by Althusius
interpreters. This article contends that these renderings have proven confusing
and unhelpful and that a better approach to this key concept is needed. It offers a
brief appraisal of the received translations of consociatio in Althusius scholarship
before providing a fresh interpretation which, it is hoped, will go some way to
alleviating the extant confusion about Althusius’s political ideas.
Public Law Review, 2019
Co-authored with Benjamin B. Saunders
The Historical Journal, 2019
Richard Hooker's understanding of political society has engendered significant debate. Does he ho... more Richard Hooker's understanding of political society has engendered significant debate. Does he hold that society is natural, in keeping with his commitment to aspects of Aristotelianism? Or does he believe that society is conventional, leading somehow to a social contractarian conception of society? My contention is that he is a political naturalist, though his naturalism is tempered by his Augustinian theological anthropology. Hooker emphasizes human sin in his account of the nature and purpose of civil government, and gives humankind agency in the establishment of society. But, ultimately, he considers political life to be natural to the human condition. In this way, Hooker navigates a via media between Aristotelian naturalism and conventionalism.
View article here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/historical-journal/article/richard-hooker-as-political-naturalist/3690717C0C09D6BD85A51CC93B59E715/share/c2c46c839a50f3c15949050c9f8785c96a3beb1e
Calvin Theological Journal, 2018
Article on two kingdoms theology, reviewing Matthew Tuininga "Calvin's Political Theology and the... more Article on two kingdoms theology, reviewing Matthew Tuininga "Calvin's Political Theology and the Public Engagement of the Church" (CUP, 2017) and W. Bradford Littlejohn's "The Peril and Promise of Christian Liberty" (Eerdmans, 2017). Co-authored with Benjamin B. Saunders.
Australian Journal of Politics & History, 2015
The figure of Abraham Kuyper looms large over the political and social landscape of nineteenth an... more The figure of Abraham Kuyper looms large over the political and social landscape of nineteenth and twentieth century Holland. He held significant posts in government, education, and the church. His social theory impacted Dutch society for much of the twentieth century. His influence on both continental and American Christian political thought is substantial. And yet, Kuyper’s legacy is largely understated, and his political thought unknown in many corners of the scholarly world. This paper seeks to address this by surveying some of the major aspects of Kuyper’s political thought while placing him in his historical setting. By doing so, it will be shown that Abraham Kuyper is a transitory figure in political history, occupying an important place in the development of the relationship between religion and the modern state.
Reformed Theological Review, 2013
Dutch theologian, journalist, and statesman Abraham Kuyper is commonly cited as an authoritative ... more Dutch theologian, journalist, and statesman Abraham Kuyper is commonly cited as an authoritative figure with regard to Christianity and politics. His example as a theologically sophisticated and politically active Christian is widely lauded and celebrated. However, his thought and impact have been rarely considered from the perspective of political theory, and his contribution to the field has largely been overlooked. There are notable exceptions to this, and some of these will be cited in this paper. None the less, due to this lack of theoretical clarity in political studies on Kuyper himself, this paper aims to provide a clearer vision of the theoretical basis of Kuyper's political thought. It will be shown that his political thought can be located in the broad streams of pluralism and Calvinism. We will first survey pluralist political thought, and then survey Calvinist political thought, focusing on John Calvin and Johannes Althusius. These surveys will lead to Dutch Calvinism and Abraham Kuyper's doctrine of sphere sovereignty. This core Kuyperian doctrine will be expounded, and will be shown to be an expression of Calvinist pluralism, thereby locating Abraham Kuyper's political theory within that stream.
Book Chapters by Simon P Kennedy
Cosmopolitanism and Its Discontents: Rethinking Politics in the Age of Brexit and Trump, 2020
This chapter argues that Johannes Althusius had access to a number different renderings of cosmop... more This chapter argues that Johannes Althusius had access to a number different renderings of cosmopolitanism, including Christian a neo-Stoic varieties. However, despite his political theory dealing with supranational political bodies, Althusius highlights the priority of local political fellowships.
Papers by Simon P Kennedy
Quadrant, 2022
A review article on Yoram Hazony's 'Conservatism: A Rediscovery"
The University Bookman, 2022
A review article of Ferenc Hörcher, "The Political Philosophy of the European City".
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Books by Simon P Kennedy
Articles by Simon P Kennedy
The historiography of the political concept of virtue has been dominated by examinations of western European and North American sources. This article aims to widen the historical scope for our understanding of the influence of the concept of political virtue by examining how Anglophone conceptions of virtue were employed by the framers of the Australian Constitution during the Federation debates and the impact of those conceptions on the Constitution itself. It examines the strands of thought that provided the backdrop for the colonial adoption of the Victorian-era British conception of political virtue, subsequently showing how the Australian constitutional framers adopted these languages and concepts in their own writings and speeches. The Australian framers were concerned with the virtue of both the people and their political leaders, applying this concern in their contributions to legal and political discourse in the latter part of the nineteenth century. However, rather than a direct transfer of the more typical languages of republican virtue, the colonial context examined here offers evidence of a shift of emphasis from virtue into the concept of “character”. The framers demonstrated an interest in the question of character as they wrote and deliberated around the constitutional problems of political parties, bicameralism, and responsible government. So, too, they showed an acute concern for the importance of character in their institutional designs for a future federal commonwealth. This article demonstrates that the framers existed within the tradition of thought which held virtue, or character, to be central to the vitality of the polity, and that the framers adapted that language in their deliberations and the institutional design of the Constitution.
(Co-authored with Benjamin B Saunders)
Constitutions are products of an alien culture. Constitutions are also ‘instruments of government’ and must be relevant to serve the needs of modern society. How ought we to reconcile the competing pressures that arise from the nature of a document that is at one and the same time a historical artefact and an instrument of contemporary government? We propose an answer modelled on the ‘Cambridge method’ of textual interpretation, whereby a constitution must first be considered as a historical text, on its own terms, without regard to today’s controversies. We argue that the best way of understanding a constitution is to take account of its historical context, and that meaning derived in this way ought to be the starting point when considering the provisions of the constitution. However, we consider that the historical context need not be determinative of the contemporary meaning of the constitution, and so departures from that meaning may be appropriate in some situations.
Sacris et Profanis Illustrata" of Johannes Althusius (1557–1638) is consociatio.
This word has been translated into English a number of different ways by Althusius
interpreters. This article contends that these renderings have proven confusing
and unhelpful and that a better approach to this key concept is needed. It offers a
brief appraisal of the received translations of consociatio in Althusius scholarship
before providing a fresh interpretation which, it is hoped, will go some way to
alleviating the extant confusion about Althusius’s political ideas.
View article here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/historical-journal/article/richard-hooker-as-political-naturalist/3690717C0C09D6BD85A51CC93B59E715/share/c2c46c839a50f3c15949050c9f8785c96a3beb1e
Book Chapters by Simon P Kennedy
Papers by Simon P Kennedy
The historiography of the political concept of virtue has been dominated by examinations of western European and North American sources. This article aims to widen the historical scope for our understanding of the influence of the concept of political virtue by examining how Anglophone conceptions of virtue were employed by the framers of the Australian Constitution during the Federation debates and the impact of those conceptions on the Constitution itself. It examines the strands of thought that provided the backdrop for the colonial adoption of the Victorian-era British conception of political virtue, subsequently showing how the Australian constitutional framers adopted these languages and concepts in their own writings and speeches. The Australian framers were concerned with the virtue of both the people and their political leaders, applying this concern in their contributions to legal and political discourse in the latter part of the nineteenth century. However, rather than a direct transfer of the more typical languages of republican virtue, the colonial context examined here offers evidence of a shift of emphasis from virtue into the concept of “character”. The framers demonstrated an interest in the question of character as they wrote and deliberated around the constitutional problems of political parties, bicameralism, and responsible government. So, too, they showed an acute concern for the importance of character in their institutional designs for a future federal commonwealth. This article demonstrates that the framers existed within the tradition of thought which held virtue, or character, to be central to the vitality of the polity, and that the framers adapted that language in their deliberations and the institutional design of the Constitution.
(Co-authored with Benjamin B Saunders)
Constitutions are products of an alien culture. Constitutions are also ‘instruments of government’ and must be relevant to serve the needs of modern society. How ought we to reconcile the competing pressures that arise from the nature of a document that is at one and the same time a historical artefact and an instrument of contemporary government? We propose an answer modelled on the ‘Cambridge method’ of textual interpretation, whereby a constitution must first be considered as a historical text, on its own terms, without regard to today’s controversies. We argue that the best way of understanding a constitution is to take account of its historical context, and that meaning derived in this way ought to be the starting point when considering the provisions of the constitution. However, we consider that the historical context need not be determinative of the contemporary meaning of the constitution, and so departures from that meaning may be appropriate in some situations.
Sacris et Profanis Illustrata" of Johannes Althusius (1557–1638) is consociatio.
This word has been translated into English a number of different ways by Althusius
interpreters. This article contends that these renderings have proven confusing
and unhelpful and that a better approach to this key concept is needed. It offers a
brief appraisal of the received translations of consociatio in Althusius scholarship
before providing a fresh interpretation which, it is hoped, will go some way to
alleviating the extant confusion about Althusius’s political ideas.
View article here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/historical-journal/article/richard-hooker-as-political-naturalist/3690717C0C09D6BD85A51CC93B59E715/share/c2c46c839a50f3c15949050c9f8785c96a3beb1e
We are living in the most interesting of times. The world is being ravaged by a deadly virus. Economic ruin seems to be descending on much of the world after government responses to COVID-19. Racial tensions have spilt over into what appears to be the end of a stable regime of law and order in the United States. The international political order is shifting before our very eyes. China is rattling its military sabre at India and Taiwan while the United States rapidly transforms into, at best, a declining and distracted superpower. It is undeniable that we are living through conditions that could spawn dramatic political change. Weakened state and government actors leave power vacuums, whilst hostile civic discourse leads to the collapse of shared political culture. Economic uncertainty, demographic shifts driven by migration and aging populations, and declining confidence in social, legal and political institutions, point to a deeply unstable situation across much of the Western world. Revolutionary rhetoric is being touted, and revolution is a distinct possibility ...
However, unlike similar scenarios in the past decades and centuries where the one hunting the heretic is the state, or the church backed in by the state, Folau is being threatened by his employer. This kind of scenario opens up a gamut of new issues concerning religious liberty. For Christians it particularly raises the question of obligations to employers.
The church in the West is facing a significant cultural crisis. Aggressive secularisation and rapidly declining religious influence combine to bring a sense of despair in the Christian's relationship with society. In the United States, where the great liberal experiment is seemingly crumbling under its own internal contradictions ... Indeed, what we diagnose as a problem is also exemplified in other positions, such as Kuyperian political theology, Reformed branches of "Radical Orthodoxy", and the functional Anabaptists within the Reformed camp. Thus, what we diagnose here is not merely "another critique of 2K", but a critique of prevalent trends in political theology as exemplified by recent articulations of the two kingdoms paradigm.
Presented at seminar on Christian Political Theology at the Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity, Melbourne.