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Continue to the next wall Saint Augustine (Augustine of Hippo) (November 13, 354 August 28, 430) An unjust law is no law at all.

Augustine of Hippo (354430 CE) is considered one of the most influential writers of the early Church. He was raised and educated in the classical Roman tradition in Thagaste, part of the Roman province of Numidia in North Africa. As a young man, he was a dedicated student of Latin literature and rhetoric, and he travelled to Carthage and later Rome to continue his studies. Although Augustine did not initially follow his mothers Christian faith, while in Rome he converted to Christianity in 387 CE. Later, he returned to North Africa and devoted his life to the Church. There he founded an ascetic community, was ordained and eventually rose to be bishop of the city of Hippo. It is not surprising that Augustine is traditionally represented holding a book, since he was a prolific writer of theological works and pastoral letters. Augustine wrote in an era when many Catholic rites and doctrines were still unsettled, and the Church was confronted by a number of schismatic movements. Many of his writings directly challenge these movements. De Libero Arbitrio (On Free Will), the source of the quote, is one of Augustines earliest Christian writings. In it he addresses free will, grace and divine foreknowledgethemes he would revisit in his writings throughout his life.

Quran (622 CE) O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses To Allah, even as againstYourselves, or your parents, Or your kin, and whether It be (against) rich or poor: For Allah can best protect both.

According to Islamic tradition, this surah (chapter), was revealed in Medina after the Prophets hijra (migration) from Mecca in 622 CE. As the name of this surah implies, An-Nisa mainly deals with the obligations and responsibilities of women in Islamic society, but it also touches on inheritance and family law along with slavery and temporary marriage. In this verse, the Quran is addressing the importance of truthfulness in testimony.

Magna Carta of King John, A.D. 1215 To no one will We sell, to none will We deny or defer, right or justice.

King John agreed to the terms of Magna Carta in a field at Runnymede in June of 1215. Johns reign had been an unhappy one, marred by wars in France, ongoing financial difficulties, friction with the Church and conflict with his subjects. Many of his barons resented his heavy-handed attempts to assert royal authority and extract funds to support his military campaigns. By late 1214, the barons rose against King Johns arbitrary rule, and after months of negotiation and armed rebellion, the barons took the city of London, drastically weakening Johns position. Under duress, John agreed to negotiate the settlement that led to the Magna Carta. Today, many of the claims set forth in Magna Carta seem modest in scope. They address grievances against the kings abuse of his powers over inheritance, fines and legal procedure. Over time, however, these specific claims became less important than the underlying principles that recognized that royal power should be limited by the law. By 1765, the great English jurist Sir William Blackstone cited the emphatical words of the Magna Carta to support his statement that the law is in England the supreme arbiter of every mans life, liberty and property. ( Commentaries on the Law of England, I.137-138). The Magna Cartas simple statement quoted here is now considered a founding principle in English constitutional law. Continue to the next wall

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11/01/2013

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Words of Justice Entrance Wall

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