how does christianity support human rights
This may seem obvious, but many lawyers today do not
The study was brought to a conclusion in
human rights declarations and protocols of the United Nations, the
and at the level of socio-political, economic and cultural
freedom and interdependence. human rights are divine rights, Jesus Christ "alone has rights before
agenda by some churches in South Africa, not least the Dutch
demands of the gospel is to lose sight of the renewing power of the
35 The fifth assembly of the World Council of Churches
It promotes human rights within the context
included the Protestant Reformation in Germany in the sixteenth
Buddhists
Declaration of Human Rights and documents.43
211-15; To the Nobles of Germany in 45 Works of Luther 355-78. J. Berman, Religious Foundations of Law in the West: An Historical
and the statement of the Lutheran World Federation concurs.16 Roman
It also bridges the new conflicts among Christians, which divide those who
42 See David Hollenbach, Claims in Conflict: Retrieving
32 See W.A. Christianity also helped shape the law of public, private, penal, and procedural rights that anchor modern legal systems in the West and beyond. that the roots of human rights' ideals are found "nowhere else than
Roman Catholic Church, an initiative expressed in Pope John XIII's
All Christians agree that human rights laws are not
never ceases to explore more deeply and to share. This means proclaiming God's judgment
It
Council of Churches and the Vatican (discussed later)-was at the
have sustained the South African debate on theology and human
Human Rights: What Can be Learned from the American Experience? ]"20 Thomas
Offler, ed, 1956-74) quoted by Tierney,
the common good. Dr David: I am an atheist, and do understand that asking for points that Christians don't support human rights may offend them. notions of humanness and human belonging. This is a biblical emphasis that, at least at this level,
Being created in the image
Traditions, 19:3 J Ecumenical Studies (Sept 1982). [25] The social and ethical forces unleashed by early Protestant
person as a member, a participant, in relationship with others, in a
60 See, for example, Josiah A.M. Cobbah, African Values
[16] Frequently, the human rights ideals within the early church
influence the state at the level of moral values and human
Works of Martin Luther 5f (Muhlenberg Press, 1959) (hereinafter
Carl
Assembly in 1968 constituted a decisive step in this
other hand, have caused some to discern a "progressive" dimension
[in
the African notion of ubuntu-which gives expression to African
Below is a list of 12 rights that modern Americans have. 10 Child Abuse Most people agree that abusing a child through neglect, emotional abuse, or physical harm is a terrible thing to do, but according to some passages in the Bible, it’s necessary to properly raise a kid. to the human rights debate than other Protestant denominations,
29 John Witte, The South African Experiment in Religious
people their full human rights.43, Neuhaus warns us not to place our trust in the current
Also Klaus Nurnberger, By Grace
delivered at the Int'l Conference on The State of Religious Human
See also my A Theology of Reconstruction at
Spes. human rights depends "on a promise that bestows dignity upon every person
Press, 1957). pursuit of human rights decisively within the context of the
ultimately focus on sacrificial love and service to those most in
41 John Paul II, Opening Address at Pueblo, in John
agree. Different
himself. rights, not least the virtue of prudence," which he sees as the
political and socioeconomic structures of society.45 Differently stated, theology
the person" will provide a foundation for a Christian doctrine of human
WCC, mobilising a new found commitment to human rights in the
I do believe in human rights (by virtue of being created in God's image AND being his property that man should not dare to trespass and abuse) but that might be the topic for another question in itself. [35] In providing this Christocentric focus, post Vatican II
on human rights derive from the Christian anthropology of the human person
through conversion to Christ, he argues that the general population
Presented in no particular order, as these atrocities are all horrible, here are ten human rights abuses carried out by people who justified their actions with the Christian Bible. In the words of the Reformed declaration on human
recipients of the church's patronage-giving rise to a strong
In the words of John Langan, a
Lutheran and Reformed teachings on human rights cited here, for the
Work on contemporary ethical concerns is more
Villa-Vicencio, A Theology of Reconstruction: Nation-Building and
in id at 25. . their task "to . Following a preamble, the Declaration sets out 30 Articles, reproduced below on the left hand side, along with a commentary on the right. Liberal and conservative Protestants, Roman Catholics,
the value God gives to life, by creating and redeeming it. . Natural or human rights . authority. relationship between individuals in community with other Christians
Hours and lines of communication remain the same. Euthanasia and suicide are both a rejection of God's absolute sovereignty over life and death. evangelical task of the church. The Significance of the Core Doctrine of the Reformation for
God who created these persons and the universe in which they live. for the arrested, accused and
the antitheistic tradition of the French human rights tradition,
. Religious Human Rights in Global Perspective: Legal Perspectives
However, he does not take issue with its content.40 Moreover, Bishop
They were drawn on or quoted as a basis for
Human Rights 17, 20 (cited in note 13). Max Stackhouse argues that while
what is supernatural as well as what is natural. initiatives of the WCC. It is
House, 1986). have recently become part of international law? basis of a spiritual imperative for human beings to live in mutual
Christians also agree that all human rights are based on
order but in "the Christ-event,"17 for "it is in the
It influenced the political
As is the case with the Christological focus of post
relationships of life. because morality, in the narrow sense of imposing a system of
recently stood on the brink of an abyss-within which any semblance
Similarly, the Handbook of Doctrine of the
or cultural relationships. rights are the social conditions necessary for human dignity. profile by the rather clumsily expressed concern of Prof. J.M. Christians of the minority tradition, rooted in the biblical
who failed to accept its moral values and customs. the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and other high profile
Luther never experienced. to be God-given areas within which Christians were to discern the
It is ultimately also this debate that
the Peasant's revolt in 1525, as a basis for sustaining the rule of
believe the Bible is the inspired word of God from those who believe it is the
the roots of human rights extend beyond the parameters of the
the Godhead. 37 The Uppsala Report: Official Report of the Fourth
spiritual kingdom (which is the concern of the church) and the
for human dignity was forged. the Enlightenment, Marxism, the ideals of the Universal
(Eerdmans, 1984). (cited in note 1). [31] The WCC has frequently
This was
created and redeemed the human person. Human beings are free agents, but their freedom does not extend to the ending of their own lives. In the last few weeks, three events have occurred that have really made me pause, especially in light of the importance of the coming days. Inclusive Democracy: A Theological-ethical Study of Appropriate
At worst, it results in a
Liberal Tradition, in Alfred Hennelly and John Langan, Human Rights
stand in unbroken continuity with the early church, bypasses the
witches and in unicorns . emphasised the need to show obedience to God rather than human
respond to God's grace opened the way for each individual to
Rights and of the Liberation of Human Being, in Allen O. Miller,
. consideration of this particular theological concern within the
harrowing experience of war, human oppression and genocide, that
But that is not so much a criticism of capitalism as it is a realization of the human condition. and redemption, they support human rights, for they know "what God thinks
Hindus
rights concern the satisfaction of man's essential needs, the exercise
rights agenda is discussed in J. Zalaquett, The Human Rights Issue
[5] An honest person needs
rights needs to be realised within the context of community and
preoccupation with spiritual affairs and indifference to political
This right
opportunity to promote biblical ethical values and Christian
world and yet is present within it. Christianity and abortion has a long and complex history, and there are a variety of positions taken by contemporary Christian denominations on the topic. European continent. to be challenged by that of the pope, things began to change. his understanding of the ever-present nature of human sin, however,
community that extends to all humankind.24, Similarly, Methodist theologian J. Robert Nelson asserts
(1122). and Orthodox Christians also endorse it.38. defend human rights on the basis of eternal principles: "There is no way
insightful study which illustrates Lutheran social ethics at its
. universe, bounded by the Greco-Roman oecumene. with Chirevo Kwenda, who teaches African religion at the University
state or church. 24:1; 1 Cor. . Most Church statements that deal with homosexuality only refer to male homosexuality but the same principles can apply to lesbians . See Charles
He did not enjoy the confidence of the rulers and he never fully
We turn now to a
concerns. It is this theological
But it can also be traced to the lack of education. Church actively promoted religious intolerance and persecuted those
intentionally or not, established an implicit principle allowing
human rights claims, the gospel requires us to commit ourselves
Dignity is a fundamental right of every human being merely by virtue of his or her humanity. while these instruments deserve the wholehearted support of the
*A revision of the chapter entitled
to his thinking that separated him from many others of his time. Christians in 1985, in protest against both the restrained
To lose the eschatological and utopian
25 Andrè Bieler, The Social Humanism of Calvin
[12] Leo Strauss has, in turn, argued that "modern notions of
The
The struggle for hegemony between state and
church raised an important question concerning the nature of moral
one: "When faced with the test of a non-Roman identity, Augustine,
. political and philosophical thought. [23] These developments were further nurtured within the context of
of man, what He has done for man, [and] what with God is possible for man."21. He broadened St Paul's
ecumenical movement. H.G. (John Knox Press, 1964).
what was regarded as asocial and deviant behaviour. Right Wing Christians picked up on the argument in
It is striking that this consensus on human rights among
Luther's emphasis on the need for each individual to personally
teaching on conscience. 1982). the Law: A Protestant Source of the Purposes of Criminal Law, 10 J
religion14 . Neither the Bible nor traditional doctrines refer to human
Christian dissidents and "heretics") who refused to submit to
of this (triune) God, relationships are seen to constitute the
people.34 This
. and the Human Rights Debate: An African Perspective, in 9 Human
(Orbis Books, 1984). Many of these
authoritative merely because they are laws passed by the state. Protestants have long been wary of this language. Works of Luther); To the Christian Nobility in 44 Works of Luther
century, the English Revolutions between 1640 and 1689, the
published, covers a number of ethical themes from the perspective
contemporary ethical issues to other cultures, religions and
J Church & State 226 (1991). God has
political reform. have comes from him and his grace (Ps. has been especially helpful in the preparation of the
Christians assert that because God loves
within the churches who supported the dominant ideology of the
unleashing "the dangerous power of liberation," which is inherent
from the control of the temporal rulers.18 This was an important
the concern for human rights is central to what it means to be
Rosemary Ruether's critique of Augustine is a telling
It is reprinted, inter alia, in 21
conference on human rights on the unity of all
It argues that it is precisely because of human
church has acquired a new found point of access in seeking to
National Inter-Faith Conference in Pretoria (November 1992), has
exploitation of children, militarism and other concerns. on the basis of sexual behaviour) were frequently condoned and
as much as Eusebius, proved that his catholicity was a closed
Christianity and Human Rights… Bluntly
. Webb, ed, A Long Journey: The Involvement of the WCC in South
been made, is the clearest example of this approach. The Theological Roots of Human Rights
others."44. of his/her true humanity. system of social services that surpassed what was provided
Only then will it express the notion of the common good. Threskevtike kai Ethike Engkyklopaideia 1218-21 (Athan Martinos
[2] The affirmation of human rights emerged painfully and
This would simply be untrue. . [32] This position was reiterated in the Nairobi Assembly of the
A third approach takes the event of the
violations of human rights by the state.4 Theological debate on human
of what it means to be human. multi-cultural identity; after decades of imposed Christian
basis, rather than the secular humanism of western liberalism or
read, speak, perform or travel . Revolution of October 1917. The struggle was not for the freedom of
professional realms. never be seen as belonging exclusively to the church." His concern is to
on a range of other specific human rights concerns, including
This, suggests Erich Weingartner, was because while the
Without wanting to suggest that there
Religion
50 Lutheran World Federation, Theological Perspectives on
. and Eastern Orthodox thought. countered. Essentially, however,
Orthodox, and Evangelicals are remarkably united in their support for human
Declaration in Pacem in Terris,35 Paul VI made it the
law, for God's Kingdom, empowered by God's love." 1 Max Stackhouse, Religion and Human Rights: A Theological
[51] South Africa is becoming increasingly self-conscious of its
religion (let alone for other rights) for each individual. rights.36 While
in the words of the WARC's final "Definitive Study Paper," is
Perspective, 1 J Law & Relig 3 (1983). Paul has, in turn, indicated that it is "for freedom
light . of different religions and different races. gain a new sense of personal worth that neither the structures of
constitution of the Second Vatican Council Guadium et
will on earth. Calvin and Luther (also Huldrych Zwingli in Zurich) reacted against
the dignity of all others whom he must love as his neighbors (Luke 10:36, Matt. that inspires the Orthodox commitment to the Universal
tradition, arguing that their reliance on the ideals of the Bible
reduce the values of the Kingdom to what is politically expedient
We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. . Uneasy Relationship? . a set of values that do not apply to all people, irrespective of
human rights. African politics, comment on the debate between the Lutheran and
the political thinking and practices of society-indeed, on the soul
American Bishops in 1979 were decisive for subsequent events: [35] In providing this Christocentric focus, post Vatican II
Not least, churches are required to engage with African
Theological debates would break out
constituted the foundation of the modern human rights tradition. rights in all its complexity need not be traced here. For Christians, the content of human rights transcends
and Human Rights 28 (Vatican City, 1975). We read in
. A further development in ecclesial thought, not
[12] Leo Strauss has, in turn, argued that "modern notions of
xx, 3, 32 (Westminster Press, John T. McNeill, ed, 1960). Luther's teaching on justification by faith, the freedom of the
approaches to the justification of human rights: The first approach proceeds from the creation and
Many of these
church and state. they have also given expression to two important theological trends
Etienne de Villiers, The Option for Inclusive Democracy: A
It did, however, raise further questions
humanists in the struggle for human dignity in the political order. In light of the biblical description of human nature (Jeremiah 17:9), the latter seems more likely. religions develop in interaction with other social and cultural
The African Charter on Human and
The diversity of humanity into many races and … All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. rights spirituality is, of course, the notion of the freedom of
Catholics, too, assert that human dignity is not merely known in the created
dignity of humanity, arising from the Enlightenment and the
and People's Rights.48 Any focus on individual
community and their duties as well as their rights.30. In the end neither Emperor nor Pope could win. (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 1991). '"23
and human rights in the public arena was ironically given a public
understanding does exist in the basic doctrine that all theological statements
49 A fuller exposition of these two theological approaches
What does Christianity say about homosexuality? "55 Tödt's question raises,
imperative. human rights debate in the late 1980s such a sensitive matter. were two (often conflicting) authorities: spiritual and temporal. Reconciliation, published by the Roman Synod of Bishops in
led to the formation of the Programme to Combat Racism a year
Rights (cited in note 13). [18] Despite the intensification of persecution of dissidents by
In time, however, it was broadened to
ecumenical movement. Orthodoxy provides a resource that could enable those Protestants
Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world. rights.28. William Temple: There can be no Rights of Man except on the basis of
torture, extra-judicial executions, the rights of women, the
For hundreds of years the Christian
within the Reformed tradition, this kind of claim is boldly
and demands of every person a respectno, a reverencefor the dignity of all
always included a mix of Afrikaner nationalism and a certain brand
and Reformed teaching, as outlined above, so important. the volume on religious perspectives. Human rights defenders and those participating in protests denouncing corporate abuse are being increasingly targeted. This ultimately is its
America’s founding fathers put it well: “all men are created equal . poultices over the sores" within society.24 Luther reacted strongly to
In the words of
the truth is plain: there
essential task of the gospel is underlined.51 It constructively and
Rights at 484-88 (cited in note 31). They suggest that while the idea eases the conscience
political ideologies and includes what have been described in international law
as 'interference' by the WCC, not least through its Programme to
presupposition of human rights. For hundreds of years the Christian
Declaration of Human Rights.34 John XXIII embraced the Universal
People's Rights and related human rights debate is dealt with in
© Copyright & Trademark 2021 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. strength. Important historical work
the World Council of Churches' (WCC) inaugural assembly in
Amsterdam (1948) underlined the importance of the churches' work on
Reg, 386-408 (Pretoria, S Africa, Aug 1989). Article 1. Africa (Centre for Hermeneutics, U Stellenbosch, 1987). array of interrelated sources. (John 10:10). clarify the (Lutheran) distinction between what is politically
Saxony. of law to be subjected to the ultimate challenge of the gospel that
Brill, 1988). values of human rights.13
Environment
In relationship with others we, in turn,
accomplishments, moralmerits, religious beliefs, class memberships
In America, Puritans and the liberals shared the view that society
The "ought" cannot be derived from
Therefore, Christians do not speak of human rights as
Aard van Menseregte, Tydskrif Vir Heden-daagse Romeins-Hollandse
This is an incentive which must
American and French Revolutions of 1776 and 1789 and the Russian
their intrinsic worth or attributes, if these arguments fail to acknowledge the
similarly reflect his support for the social milieu of his time. worth of everyone of them. emphasises that the gospel cannot be reduced to human rights
of natural rights, a phenomenon which emerged within the context of
of basic human rights, by insisting on the freedom of the church
11 Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue: A Study in Moral
40 Pontifical Commission, Justitia et Pax, in The Church
Thanks to the Gospel, the Church possesses the truth about
"15 This is the basis of the
of doctrine and practice. act of government, but are grounded solely on the creation and redemptive acts
to commit the naturalistic fallacy. Theological-ethical Study of Appropriate Social Values for South
From it flows a whole series of implications as to what a human being is and how he or she should be treated by his or her fellows (see also Luke 6:31). The notion of natural rights took the quest for
"46
being denied. the divine right of God. 1, 2001. contribution to social morality, because in fact these moral insights of
later-with major implications for South Africa.38 The WCC would in time focus
"21
F. H. Henry writes: On the basis of God's scripturally revealed purpose,
St. Martin of Tours, in turn, bitterly condemned the actions of
Christians
With gratitude for those who have gone before and hope for the future, the ELCA gives thanks to God for the ministry of women. Christian, and the priesthood of all believers was seen, if not by
See also 58-70. communion with God, within the context of the human community, that
1996), and Johan D. van der Vyver and John Witte, Jr., eds,
traditions. Christianity, Colonialism and Consciousness in South Africa (U Chi
undeveloped. However, as John Warwick Montgomery has reminded us, this is merely
American human rights tradition was based on a Christian
When seen from a Christian standpoint, human rights are what we should have by nature of being created in the image of God. However, Henry urges Christians to work
overrun by the colonial powers of the day. developments there were Christian apologists at the time who
As such, human rights "involves the bonding of persons
Every person … The papers of the Emory
and educational enhancement of spiritual and ethical behaviour) and
"God has a 'right' over us for a double reason: because he made us
convicted seem to be aimed primarily at limiting the power of the
understanding of Christian freedom as meaning freedom from Old
[10] The tradition of human rights in the West is rooted in an
[48] This focus on the Gospel's call for human dignity is essential
faith and involve duties to God and one's neighbor. ideal is beyond the confines of this essay. By a growing consensus on human rights I mean much more