The Normative Principle of Sphere Sovereignty

Abstract

This essay presents and discusses the normative principle of societal sphere-sovereignty, drawing mostly on the original formulation of this principle made by Abra-ham Kuyper (1837-1920), Dutch theologian and political leader. The essay deals, next, with the issue of how civil government and other spheres relate, mostly by focusing on the auxiliary theory that legitimizes (in some cases) the intervention of civil government in other spheres. The argument is illustrated throughout the essay with examples on how the spheres of civil government, church and education relate, though other possible is-sues are also mentioned. The essay ends with a critical evaluation of the auxiliary theory of civil government interventionism, pointing out the challenges posed both by the cur-rent crisis in the public square and by principled pluralism.