NCJ Number
109430
Journal
Emory Law Journal Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1987) Pages: 557-568
Date Published
1987
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The ancient image of covenant underlies the concept of contract that is the supreme governing image for human relationships in modern society.
Abstract
However, the concept of contract emphasizes the free will of individual parties and leads to problems in conceptualizing relationships with wider parties whose will and claim cannot be registered in separate contracts. Covenantal imagery is often presented as an alternative to contract. It rests on the biblical concept of a covenanting God that binds past, present, and future generations and that acknowledges the links between land and human life. The covenantal perspective is particularly useful in three areas: land ownership and use, parenthood, and professional cooperation. A fuller understanding in each of these areas will help shape more complete communities. 4 footnotes.