Dr Simon Kennedy
Dr

Simon Kennedy

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Background

Simon is an intellectual historian specialising in the history of legal, political and religious ideas. He is currently working on a number of projects: the political uses of the fifth commandment ("Honour your father and mother") in the early modern period, resistance theory in the Reformed Protestant tradition, and the idea of constituent power in the early modern period. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest in early 2023, and is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Danube Institute, also in Budapest. His first book was published with Edinburgh University Press in 2022, and is entitled Reforming the Law of Nature: The secularisation of political thought, 1532-1689. His second book is on education, entitled Against Worldview, and published with Lexham Press.

Availability

Dr Simon Kennedy is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Christian studies Historical studies History and philosophy of specific fields History, Heritage and Archaeology Law and Legal Studies Law and humanities Law and religion Law in context Legal theory, jurisprudence and legal interpretation Philosophy and Religious Studies Religious studies

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Early modern and modern history

  • History and constitutional interpretation

  • Reformed Protestantism

  • History of political thought

  • History of legal thought

  • Legal history

Search Professor Simon Kennedy’s works on UQ eSpace

21 works between 2013 and 2025
All (21) Journal Article (17) Book Chapter (1) Book (2) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 21 works

2025

Journal Article

“The prime and fountain-power”: Law, sovereignty, and constituent power in Samuel Rutherford’s Lex, Rex (1644)

Aroney, Nicholas and Kennedy, Simon P. (2025). “The prime and fountain-power”: Law, sovereignty, and constituent power in Samuel Rutherford’s Lex, Rex (1644). European Journal of Political Theory, 1-24. doi: 10.1177/14748851241305020

“The prime and fountain-power”: Law, sovereignty, and constituent power in Samuel Rutherford’s Lex, Rex (1644)

2024

Journal Article

The Australian constitutional framers and the languages of virtue

Kennedy, Simon P. and Saunders, Benjamin B. (2024). The Australian constitutional framers and the languages of virtue. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 70 (4), 641-657. doi: 10.1111/ajph.12978

The Australian constitutional framers and the languages of virtue

2024

Journal Article

Christian worldview and cosmic war: contexts and origins of a religious combat concept

Kennedy, Simon P. (2024). Christian worldview and cosmic war: contexts and origins of a religious combat concept. Church History, 93 (1), 63-84. doi: 10.1017/s0009640724000064

Christian worldview and cosmic war: contexts and origins of a religious combat concept

2024

Book

Against worldview: reimagining Christian formation as growth in wisdom

Kennedy, Simon P. (2024). Against worldview: reimagining Christian formation as growth in wisdom. Bellingham, WA, United States: Lexham Press.

Against worldview: reimagining Christian formation as growth in wisdom

2022

Journal Article

The decalogue, resistance, and political obedience in early Protestant thought

Kennedy, Simon P. (2022). The decalogue, resistance, and political obedience in early Protestant thought. Journal of Religious History, 46 (1), 143-159. doi: 10.1111/1467-9809.12828

The decalogue, resistance, and political obedience in early Protestant thought

2022

Book

Reforming the law of nature: the secularisation of political thought, 1532–1689

Kennedy, Simon P. (2022). Reforming the law of nature: the secularisation of political thought, 1532–1689. Edinburgh, United Kingdom: Edinburgh University Press.

Reforming the law of nature: the secularisation of political thought, 1532–1689

2020

Journal Article

History and constitutional interpretation: applying the ‘Cambridge School’ approach to interpreting constitutions

Saunders, Benjamin B. and Kennedy, Simon P. (2020). History and constitutional interpretation: applying the ‘Cambridge School’ approach to interpreting constitutions. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 40 (3), 591-618. doi: 10.1093/ojls/gqaa013

History and constitutional interpretation: applying the ‘Cambridge School’ approach to interpreting constitutions

2020

Journal Article

Review of David P.Henreckson : The Immortal Commonwealth: Covenant, Community, and Political Resistance in Early Reformed Thought

Kennedy, Simon P. (2020). Review of David P.Henreckson : The Immortal Commonwealth: Covenant, Community, and Political Resistance in Early Reformed Thought. Journal of Religious History, 44 (3) 1467-9809.12677, 392-394. doi: 10.1111/1467-9809.12677

Review of David P.Henreckson : The Immortal Commonwealth: Covenant, Community, and Political Resistance in Early Reformed Thought

2020

Book Chapter

Johannes Althusius’s cosmopolitan defense of local politics

Aroney, Nicholas and Kennedy, Simon P. (2020). Johannes Althusius’s cosmopolitan defense of local politics. Cosmopolitanism and its discontents: rethinking politics in the age of Brexit and Trump. (pp. 19-36) edited by Lee Ward. Lanham, MD, United States: Rowman & Littlefield.

Johannes Althusius’s cosmopolitan defense of local politics

2019

Journal Article

Rethinking consociatio in Althusius's Politica

Kennedy, Simon P. (2019). Rethinking consociatio in Althusius's Politica. Journal of Markets and Morality, 22 (2), 305-316.

Rethinking consociatio in Althusius's Politica

2019

Other Outputs

Nature, the fall, and the secularisation of early modern political thought

Kennedy, Simon Paul (2019). Nature, the fall, and the secularisation of early modern political thought. PhD Thesis, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2019.46

Nature, the fall, and the secularisation of early modern political thought

2019

Journal Article

Popular Sovereignty, "the People" and the Australian Constitution: A Historical Reassessment

Saunders, Benjamin B. and Kennedy, Simon P. (2019). Popular Sovereignty, "the People" and the Australian Constitution: A Historical Reassessment. Public Law Review, 30 (1), 36-57.

Popular Sovereignty, "the People" and the Australian Constitution: A Historical Reassessment

2018

Journal Article

Richard Hooker as political naturalist

Kennedy, Simon P. (2018). Richard Hooker as political naturalist. Historical Journal, 62 (2), 1-18. doi: 10.1017/S0018246X18000080

Richard Hooker as political naturalist

2018

Journal Article

Characterizing the two kingdoms and assessing their relevance today

Kennedy, Simon P. and Saunders, Benjamin B. (2018). Characterizing the two kingdoms and assessing their relevance today. Calvin Theological Journal, 53 (1), 161-173.

Characterizing the two kingdoms and assessing their relevance today

2017

Journal Article

Abraham Kuyper, Common Grace: God's Gifts for a Fallen World, vol 1, The Historical Section

Kennedy, Simon P. (2017). Abraham Kuyper, Common Grace: God's Gifts for a Fallen World, vol 1, The Historical Section. International Journal of Public Theology, 11 (3), 365-367.

Abraham Kuyper, Common Grace: God's Gifts for a Fallen World, vol 1, The Historical Section

2017

Journal Article

Abraham Kuyper, Pro Rege: Living under Christ’s Kingship: Volume 1: The Exalted Nature of Christ’s Kingship, edited by Nelson D. Kloosterman and John Kok, and translated by Albert Gootjes Abraham Kuyper, Common Grace: God’s Gifts for a Fallen World: Volume 1: The Historical Section, edited by Jordan J. Ballor and Stephen J. Grabill, and translated by Nelson D. Kloosterman and Ed M. van der Maas

Kennedy, Simon P. (2017). Abraham Kuyper, Pro Rege: Living under Christ’s Kingship: Volume 1: The Exalted Nature of Christ’s Kingship, edited by Nelson D. Kloosterman and John Kok, and translated by Albert Gootjes Abraham Kuyper, Common Grace: God’s Gifts for a Fallen World: Volume 1: The Historical Section, edited by Jordan J. Ballor and Stephen J. Grabill, and translated by Nelson D. Kloosterman and Ed M. van der Maas. International Journal of Public Theology, 11 (3), 365-367. doi: 10.1163/15697320-12341505

Abraham Kuyper, Pro Rege: Living under Christ’s Kingship: Volume 1: The Exalted Nature of Christ’s Kingship, edited by Nelson D. Kloosterman and John Kok, and translated by Albert Gootjes Abraham Kuyper, Common Grace: God’s Gifts for a Fallen World: Volume 1: The Historical Section, edited by Jordan J. Ballor and Stephen J. Grabill, and translated by Nelson D. Kloosterman and Ed M. van der Maas

2017

Journal Article

Abraham Kuyper, Pro Rege: Living under Christ's Kingship, vol 1, The Exalted Nature of Christ's Kingship

Kennedy, Simon P. (2017). Abraham Kuyper, Pro Rege: Living under Christ's Kingship, vol 1, The Exalted Nature of Christ's Kingship. International Journal of Public Theology, 11 (3), 365-367.

Abraham Kuyper, Pro Rege: Living under Christ's Kingship, vol 1, The Exalted Nature of Christ's Kingship

2016

Journal Article

Review of 'Richard Hooker: A Companion to His Life and Work' by W. Bradford Littlejohn

Kennedy, Simon P. (2016). Review of 'Richard Hooker: A Companion to His Life and Work' by W. Bradford Littlejohn. The Sixteenth Century Journal, 47 (2), 470-471.

Review of 'Richard Hooker: A Companion to His Life and Work' by W. Bradford Littlejohn

2016

Journal Article

Richard Hooker: a companion to his life and work

Kennedy, Simon P. (2016). Richard Hooker: a companion to his life and work. Sixteenth Century Journal, 47 (2), 470-471.

Richard Hooker: a companion to his life and work

2015

Journal Article

Abraham Kuyper: Calvinist Anti-Revolutionary Politician and Political Thinker

Kennedy, Simon P. (2015). Abraham Kuyper: Calvinist Anti-Revolutionary Politician and Political Thinker. Australian Journal of Politics & History, 61 (2), 169-183. doi: 10.1111/ajph.12099

Abraham Kuyper: Calvinist Anti-Revolutionary Politician and Political Thinker

Availability

Dr Simon Kennedy is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Hume's Constitutionalism: History and Human Nature in the Constitutional Thought of David Hume

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor James Allan

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Simon Kennedy directly for media enquiries about:

  • Christianity and politics
  • church and state
  • political ideas
  • politics and religion
  • western civilisation

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