Crown and Crozier
In Crown and Crozier, we invite leading thinkers to explore how the human experience is shaped by the interplay between Church and State, and what this means for tackling the great challenges of today. Join us as we examine what’s at stake for us as citizens and as a society in the dynamic engagement between civil and religious authority. The common good, basic freedoms, dignity of the person, administration of justice, self-government, the preservation of truth, goodness and beauty - all this and more hangs in the balance.
Crown and Crozier
How the Medieval Church Shaped the Modern State ~ Anna Grzymala-Busse
Centuries ago, when what we now refer to as “States” were just starting to take shape, who did they turn to for guidance on how to perform their basic functions? Who taught them the equivalent of accounting, record-keeping, law, taxation and dispute resolution 101? Who served as a model for how to administer justice and organize an assembly of representatives?
And who, by extension, do we have to thank for the great inheritance of such fundamental principles as the rule of law, that have been passed down generation after generation?
That’s right, the Roman Catholic Church of the medieval era!
Our guest for this episode is Dr. Anna Grzymala-Busse, author of the recently published book, Sacred Foundations: The Religious and Medieval Roots of the European State.
Dr. Grzymala-Busse researches and teaches at Stanford University, where she serves as the Michelle and Kevin Douglas Professor of International Studies in the Department of Political Science, the Director of the Europe Center, and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute. Her areas of expertise include the historical development of the state and its transformation, political parties, and religion and politics.
Resources
Anna Grzymala-Busse (faculty bio)
Sacred Foundations: The Religious and Medieval Roots of the European State
podcast@crownandcrozier.com
www.crownandcrozier.com
twitter.com/crownandcrozier
Please note that this podcast has been edited for length and clarity.