On being the patient people of God: Freedom of religion, Christian conscientious objection, and the call to patient holiness in today’s world by Martin Davie
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£14.95
£14.95
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ISBN: 978-1-8381828-5-4
550 pages/Paperback
RRP £14.95 / $20.00
In this comprehensive and detailed new study Martin Davie looks at the key issue of freedom of religion from a theological, historical and pastoral perspective.
Published 1st February 2025 - Pre-order your copy now
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In this new study Martin Davie looks at the key issue of freedom of religion from a theological, historical and pastoral perspective. He demonstrates that contrary to the widely held idea that belief in freedom of religion only emerged at the time of the European Enlightenment in the eighteenth century, in fact its origin lies in the teaching of the Bible and in the witness to this teaching borne by an unbroken line of Christian thinkers from the time of the Early Church Fathers Tertullian and Lactantius onwards.
Davie explains that the Christian belief in freedom of religion was enshrined in international and national law since the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Freedom of religion is still under attack even in liberal Western democracies where Christians have often come to be seen as the ‘bad guys’ because of their opposition to the modern culture of personal and sexual autonomy. Finally, Davie suggests that in the face of this Christians are called to build on the example provided by the Early Church by making use of the freedom given to them by God to live lives of patient holiness, involving obedience to God’s will, and the teaching of the Christian faith, in the belief that God will use their faithful witness to further his good purposes in the world. He also explains that conscientious objection to engaging in forms of behaviour contrary to God’s will is an integral part of faithful witness. This book will be an invaluable resource for all Christians wanting to better understand the origin and nature of freedom of religion and what it should mean in practice for Christian believers today. |
“Dr Martin Davie has, once again, put us in his debt with this well researched work on the roots of freedom of religion and belief in the Christian tradition and its increasingly urgent relevance in the world today. His gathering together of sources is nothing short of magisterial and the book will become and remain a point of reference for researchers, practitioners and activists for many years to come. He has not only referred to his sources exhaustively but, as ever, has analysed and drawn out their significance for us today. It is difficult to imagine a more thorough treatment of the subject than this latest contribution by one of our leading theologians. Deo Gratias!” |
‘Freedom of religion is often called the first freedom. It is foundational to all the other freedoms. No society that restricts freedom of religion can claim to be a free society. Yet increasingly we have seen Christians arrested or losing their jobs in the UK and elsewhere in the West merely for expressing their Christian beliefs. Martin Davie has written a timely and vital defence of freedom of religion from history, theology, and international law. He also examines how Christians should respond to restrictions on freedom of religion and discusses the principles around conscientious objection. Davie’s book is a tour de force. Everyone concerned about preserving religious freedom in the West should read it.’ |
'The times in which we live are so marked by dramatic social changes and extreme rhetoric that it can be hard for Christians to resist the pull towards anger, despair or simply attitudes and behaviours that bring no credit to the church and no glory to Christ. In this book, Martin Davie reminds us that this world is not home and that an attitude of patience and hope is to characterize our lives. But he does this not simply by offering empty pieties but by setting forth a theological framework and clear, practical proposals for Christian life both in the church and in the world. His is a timely and helpful voice in this moment of confusion.' |
‘On being the patient people of God is a tour de force, magisterial in its knowledge, insight and analysis of issues of freedom of religion, Christian conscientious objection, and the call to patient holiness in today’s world. Dr Davie winningly engages the wider issues where Western society and culture intersect with law, philosophy, anthropology, sociology and theology. He not only sounds the alarm but offers important solutions and ways forward. Davie's scholarship is put to good use as he allows (largely ignorant, uneducated) postmodern readers access to profound Christian thought over the centuries, from early church fathers such as Bishop Cyprian of Carthage to modern theologians such as the brilliant Leslie Newbigin. Given the seriousness of the increasingly totalitarian challenges orthodox Christians now face in the West, Davie's God-focus and framework is much needed. ‘A must read for anyone interested in the history, theory and practice of freedom of religion from a Christian perspective. A roadmap to the Christian influence in developing religious freedom as we know it, how secularism and other forces have diminished this fundamental freedom, and how the West has increasingly embraced intolerance of Christians and Christian morality. The book ends with a call to holiness and conscientious refusal to act in a way which contravenes God’s will.’ |
‘For Christians, right across the world, and to a lesser extent people of other faiths, genuine freedom to hold to and practice their beliefs is a matter of extreme urgency. This is increasingly true in 'Western' nations, as in other geographical locations. Martin Davie's new book presents a full-length, detailed account of why religious freedom is ultimately the basis of all freedoms. He explores the Biblical basis of this reality in the freedom that God has chosen to affirm and uphold for all humans. He continues with a comprehensive review of multiple writings from Christians, from post-apostolic times to the present day, who endorse this view. With reference to a wide variety of recent studies from people who have specialised in the subject he discusses the main reasons why this freedom is being eroded, even in societies that pride themselves with being broad-minded and tolerant to opinions, although strong disagreements may abound. He explores in depth the reasons why, particularly in recent years, the freedom of religion is being curtailed by harsh laws and resulting legal indictments, ideologically misinformed and biased impressions about religious convictions, and 'cancel culture'. The last part of his study is dedicated to recommending the best ways in which Christians should respond to the gradual loss of what they have a right to believe is a fundamental human right, especially one that is ratified in numerous international Declarations, Covenants, Conventions and Treaties. 4 This book covers an enormous amount of ground with precision, insight and wisdom. Readers will benefit from the wealth of judicious opinions expressed and the weight of arguments adduced to defend this indispensable gift from a gracious and merciful God.’ |