In the west, the belief in law comes from religious tradition, and the two are closely related. In the 1960s, there were many social problems in the United States and other western countries. Pahlman, an American comparative jurist and legal historian, believes that the crisis faced by westerners is neither the excessive sanctification of law nor the excessive legalization of religion, that is, the crisis of excessive integration of the two. On the contrary, it is the crisis that they are too divided: "jurists regard law as a purely utilitarian tool and means and put it within the scope of" instrumental rationality "; Theologians regard religion as a belief, love and grace that transcends procedures and organizations, and put it in opposition to the law. " Pahlman emphasized that only by integrating the two can the law be truly believed by the society.

On the surface, this western view of religious law is of little significance to the construction of a legal society in China, because there is no real state or ethnic religion in China. However, according to Pahlman's viewpoint: "Law is ultimately based on morality, and morality is ultimately based on religion", China law also has its belief basis, that is, Confucian moral and ethical dogma. In other words, in China, the sanctified morality itself has the function of religion. Today, we advocate that the whole people devote themselves to the construction of a harmonious society. Governing the country by law and by virtue should play an equally important role. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the relationship between western Christianity and law and the Christian view of law for finding back the sanctity and religion of law and building a society ruled by law.

First, the relationship between law and religion.

Throughout the world, whether in the East or the West, law and religion are more or less related, and they are all born out of religion to some extent, such as Islamic countries and ancient Greece and Rome.

In western culture, the close contact or interaction between law and religion has always been a striking phenomenon, and their absorption or exclusion has shown different characteristics in different historical periods. In ancient and medieval times, the distance between them was very close, and sometimes they even merged into one and were inseparable. Since modern times, western capitalist countries have established the principle of separation of church and state. Law and religion are relatively independent and self-contained, but they are by no means irrelevant, but each has its own emphasis and tacit cooperation, which has great influence and shaping power on social life.

From a historical perspective, the long-term and close relationship between law and religion can be traced back to the source of western civilization-Hebrew culture. Hebrew law is inseparable from religion. It came into being from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century BC. It was initiated by Moses and revised and expanded by emperors and priests. "In the process of its formation and development, Hebrew law has been greatly influenced by the more ancient code of hammurabi, and at the same time it has absorbed many nutrients from the laws of ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Assyria and Persia. But what has the greatest influence on it is the Hebrew religious thought. " What is recorded in the Five Books of Moses is not only the commandments of God, but also the laws of the world. This is the law. Hebrew law has the nature of both religious precepts and moral norms, which leads to the integration of law, religion and morality.