Also, my views are usually consistent with those of my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters.

Also, my views are usually consistent with those of my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters.

“I’m not at all sure what you think the “Christian” perspective on our legal system, jurisprudence and pedagogy might be. [I use quotes, because I do not know how you define the term, but fear you might be appropriating an adjective that subsumes many different points of view, and applying it to but one of those perspectives, belief systems, and political agendas.]”

I am mainly referring to the Protestant evangelical perspective, but even that is a widely diverse group.

“I do not believe that any one group of Americans has all the answers as to what laws are ‘right,’ or ‘just’ or in accord with ‘natural law.’”

Neither do I. In this respect, I am different than some Protestant evangelicals you might encounter. The natural law is the standard we all try to meet.

“I believe it is inappropriate to suggest that our judges and legislators, and our populace, must look to the Bible rather than the Constitution as our basic legal foundation (much less that one religious sect has the power to say what the Bible means).”

I agree.

“I’m not at all sure what you think the “Christian” perspective on our legal system, jurisprudence and pedagogy might be. [I use quotes, because I do not know how you define the term, but fear you might be appropriating an adjective that subsumes many different points of view, and applying it to but one of those perspectives, belief systems, and political agendas.]”

I am mainly referring to the Protestant evangelical perspective, but even that is a widely diverse group.

“I do not believe that any one group of Americans has all the answers as to what laws are ‘right,’ or ‘just’ or in accord with ‘natural law.’”

Neither do I. In this respect, I am different than some Protestant evangelicals you might encounter. The natural law is the standard we all try to meet.

“I believe it is inappropriate to suggest that our judges and legislators, and our populace, must look to the Bible rather than the Constitution as our basic legal foundation (much less that one religious sect has the power to say what the Bible means).”

I agree.

Thanks for asking an important question, JR, and for sharing you personal perspective.  
Because I am not involved in legal education and have not been for a very long time, I would like to hear from those who are (professors, administrators, current and recent students).  I wish you would direct your question ”What about the Christian viewpoint in this ‘full range of professional debate?’”  to Prof. Althouse and others in “mainstream law schools.”  I have no personal or weblog relationship with Prof. Althouse, but I will also write to her posing your question, and write to others who I know have a strong interest in legal curriculum.
Please let me make a couple of observations, however.  To the extent that law schools engage in discussions and pedagogy related to what the law and our legal system ”should” be [e.g., varying approaches to constitutional interpretation; normative standards for achieving "justice" or "fairness" in statutory and regulatory bodies of law, and their enforcement; standards for assessing "reform" proposals], there should be a very wide-open discussion of the various perspectives that exist in our society.  In that context, the perspective of the evangelical or fundamentalist Christian movement is far too important in our body politic for me to believe it is totally ignored at any law school that seeks to achieve excellence and prepare its lawyers for careers in the 21st Century.
I’m not at all sure what you think the “Christian” perspective on our legal system, jurisprudence and pedagogy might be.  [I use quotes, because I do not know how you define the term, but fear you might be appropriating an adjective that subsumes many different points of view, and applying it to but one of those perspectives, belief systems, and political agendas.]  I do not believe that any one group of Americans has all the answers as to what laws are “right,” or “just” or in accord with “natural law.”  Certainly, the Liberals do not; nor do the Conservatives, the Moderates, the Federalists, or the Libertarians, to name a few.  I am certain that our Founding Fathers did not wish to have a nation in which one set of religious beliefs somehow set the blueprint, framework and recipe for the laws of our secular nation.  
Your values are a valuable part of the discussion and persuasion that goes into making and interpreting law.  But, I believe it is inappropriate to suggest that our judges and legislators, and our populace, must look to the Bible rather than the Constitution as our basic legal foundation (much less that one religious sect has the power to say what the Bible means).  A law school that adopted such an approach might be located in America, but it would not be teaching American law.   

Thanks for asking an important question, JR, and for sharing you personal perspective.  
Because I am not involved in legal education and have not been for a very long time, I would like to hear from those who are (professors, administrators, current and recent students).  I wish you would direct your question ”What about the Christian viewpoint in this ‘full range of professional debate?’”  to Prof. Althouse and others in “mainstream law schools.”  I have no personal or weblog relationship with Prof. Althouse, but I will also write to her posing your question, and write to others who I know have a strong interest in legal curriculum.
Please let me make a couple of observations, however.  To the extent that law schools engage in discussions and pedagogy related to what the law and our legal system ”should” be [e.g., varying approaches to constitutional interpretation; normative standards for achieving "justice" or "fairness" in statutory and regulatory bodies of law, and their enforcement; standards for assessing "reform" proposals], there should be a very wide-open discussion of the various perspectives that exist in our society.  In that context, the perspective of the evangelical or fundamentalist Christian movement is far too important in our body politic for me to believe it is totally ignored at any law school that seeks to achieve excellence and prepare its lawyers for careers in the 21st Century.
I’m not at all sure what you think the “Christian” perspective on our legal system, jurisprudence and pedagogy might be.  [I use quotes, because I do not know how you define the term, but fear you might be appropriating an adjective that subsumes many different points of view, and applying it to but one of those perspectives, belief systems, and political agendas.]  I do not believe that any one group of Americans has all the answers as to what laws are “right,” or “just” or in accord with “natural law.”  Certainly, the Liberals do not; nor do the Conservatives, the Moderates, the Federalists, or the Libertarians, to name a few.  I am certain that our Founding Fathers did not wish to have a nation in which one set of religious beliefs somehow set the blueprint, framework and recipe for the laws of our secular nation.  
Your values are a valuable part of the discussion and persuasion that goes into making and interpreting law.  But, I believe it is inappropriate to suggest that our judges and legislators, and our populace, must look to the Bible rather than the Constitution as our basic legal foundation (much less that one religious sect has the power to say what the Bible means).  A law school that adopted such an approach might be located in America, but it would not be teaching American law.   

David,

I am responding to this post and your earlier post.

In the earlier post you give approval to the following statement by Prof. Althouse. “What’s needed are law schools that expose law students to the full range of professional
debate.”

What about the Christian viewpoint in this “full range of professional debate?” Are any law students being exposed to the Christian side of the debate? If not, how should law schools make sure students are?

(As an aside, so you can see where I am coming from, here is a bit about me and my worldview. I am a Christian and my morality and my desire to minister to the poor comes from my faith. I respect all ethical folks, no matter where their ethics stem from. I also try to learn from all ethical folks whether they be believers or not. With that said, I think all that is good, right and just ultimately stems from God and God’s natural law).

David,

I am responding to this post and your earlier post.

In the earlier post you give approval to the following statement by Prof. Althouse. “What’s needed are law schools that expose law students to the full range of professional
debate.”

What about the Christian viewpoint in this “full range of professional debate?” Are any law students being exposed to the Christian side of the debate? If not, how should law schools make sure students are?

(As an aside, so you can see where I am coming from, here is a bit about me and my worldview. I am a Christian and my morality and my desire to minister to the poor comes from my faith. I respect all ethical folks, no matter where their ethics stem from. I also try to learn from all ethical folks whether they be believers or not. With that said, I think all that is good, right and just ultimately stems from God and God’s natural law).