Can Commonwealth values be grounded in religion? Resources from the Christian tradition

Abstract

Although religion has played a significant historical role in forming the political culture of most Commonwealth members, the Commonwealth has mostly refrained from engaging with religious thought and practice. This article proposes that the core values embodied in the Commonwealth Charter could offer a promising focus for a new engagement between the Commonwealth and the diverse religious traditions represented among its members. It offers a case study of modern Christian political thought to show how one religious tradition might go about constructing a foundation for a constitutional democracy consonant with Christian values, identifying five central themes in Christian political thought that speak to Charter values. It calls for Christian individuals and denominational bodies to signal strong support for the Charter and together with other religious and secular traditions to engage in exploration, critique and dialogue.