The Biblical Roots of American Constitutionalism: From "I Am the Lord" to "We the People"

American constitutional democracy is rooted in biblical Israel, with no king but a covenant enforced. It evolved through a sequence of embodiments, passing on the torch of essential traditions to its heir, rather than from studying and applying biblical recipes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

The conventional wisdom holds that American constitutional democracy drew its roots from various sources, including Athenian democracy, Roman Law, English legal practices, and the Magna Carta. While this book concurs that democracy originated in Athens, it presents a unique thesis as suggested by its title. According to the book's argument, constitutionalism, in the sense of an agreed text governing legislative procedures, government, and power distribution, had its earliest roots in pre-state Israel, commonly referred to as Israel of the Judges.

The thesis of the book is comprised of three key concepts:

Concept 1: The Roots of American Constitutionalism: This concept has been the subject of scholarly debate among constitutional historians. The book asserts that American constitutionalism finds its origins in biblical Israel.

Concept 2: Proto-Israel (also known as Israel of the Judges): Contrary to popular belief, as depicted in the Book of Judges, Proto-Israel did not have a king. Instead, it operated under a covenant that it enforced. This belief, while rooted in the Bible, has been recently proven through new evidence.

Concept 3: Evolution of American Constitutionalism: Contrary to the notion that American constitutionalism stemmed from studying and applying biblical recipes, the book proposes that it evolved through a series of embodiments. Each embodiment passed on the torch of essential traditions to its heir, resulting in the development of American constitutionalism as we know it today.

It is important to note that the book's purpose is not to challenge or undermine our understanding of the Constitution. Rather, it aims to address questions that readers may have, even those that may have never been asked before. The book offers a fresh perspective on the origins and evolution of constitutionalism, providing valuable insights into the historical and cultural factors that shaped the United States' political system.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793637239