论西方宗教与法治社会的关系

On the Relation between Western Religions and Society with Rule of Law

宗教传统是西方社会治理中的价值渊源,而法制传统是西方社会治理中的有效规范。"君权神授"则是这两种传统辩证关系的最初形式,这种宗教与法律的辩证关系在罗马帝国的社会治理中演变成为教会法与世俗法,其理论和实践特征在西方法理学中被概括为自然法理论和实证法理论,它们分别表现为立法的基础和司法的目的以及司法的效果与法律规范的强制性,最终进化为现代法律体系中的宪法和部门法结构。"良心自由"作为西方法律体系中最基本的道德权利具有主体性和神圣性,是宪政精神中保障私权和限制公权的信仰基础,亦是近代天赋人权、君权民约和合宪性政权的民主政治原则。宗教传统所孕育的自由、平等和正义观念构成了西方法治社会中立法、普法和守法的价值基础,而法律的强制措施和效力规范也为司法的稳定性和目的性确立了可以普遍施行的社会基础,这两个方面的交互影响和促进揭示出了现代西方社会文明和进步的基本特征。

The tradition of religion is the value source of the government of western society while the legal tradition is its effective norm.'The divine right of kings'is the initiative form of the two traditionally dialectical relations.The dialectical relation evolves into church law and secular law in the social government of Roman Empire.Its theoretical and practical characteristics have been generalized as the theories of natural law and positive law in the western legal philosophy.They present as the base of legislation,purpose and effect of judicature,mandate of legal norm and finally developed into the structure of constitution and departmental laws of modern legal system.'Freedom of conscience',the very basic moral right of western legal system,exists with subjectivity and sanctity.It is the fundamental faith for protecting private rights and restricting public rights in constitution as well as the democratic political principle of natural rights(jus natural),sovereignty by social contract and constitutionality of political rights.The idea of freedom,equality and justice in religious tradition sets up the value base for legislation,law popularization and law abiding in the western society with rule of law.At the same time,the mandatory execution and effective norm of law builds up social base for the realization of stability and objectivity of judicature.Both are interrelated,influenced and promoted each other which indicate the essential features of modern western society's civilization and progress.