God and Caesar: Aspects of Church and State from 1788

Zeus Publications, 2009

RRP $34.95

Reviewed by Bill Adams.

 

The very title of God and Caesar quickens the pulse and sends the blood pumping. We think of all the confrontations, the strong encounters, the power struggles in times past, between church and state, and in the present day.

Rather than deal only with the ideas and concepts the title evokes, author Bruce Upham has worked on the topic as a strict historian, coming down from the clouds of abstraction to the reality of life in , especially Queensland .

He has dealt with particular areas: education, Aboriginal affairs, the nation at war, and other social issues like temperance, sexual morality and the role of trade unions.

Mr Upham concludes by comparing the situation in with that of other places such as , and Europe. Mr Upham is well known in theological education, especially in Queensland where he lectured for twenty-three years at Trinity Theological College.

He was very involved in the preparation of the Basis of Union for the formation of the Uniting Church in , having come from the Congregational Union beforehand.

As a piece of historical research God and Caesar is very well documented, with careful referencing, accurate footnotes, comprehensive bibliography and many appropriate quotations to strengthen the point being argued.

As a source of information for a student these topics are absolutely invaluable. Many hours must have been spent researching the archives of the various churches and government institutions here and in London , newspaper reports and other historical works to gather so much information in such compact form.

God and Caesar is most interesting because of its relevance to the issues we face today – so many of them have roots in the past.

This history is an invaluable tool.