What is the basis of human rights?

[tonyrey]

The basis of all human rights is “the dignity of the individual” which is another way of saying we are made in the image of God.

I agree with you. In a Godless universe human rights are merely human conventions - and animals are often considered to have no rights at all…

 

[aclausen]

I agree with you. In a Godless universe human rights are merely human conventions - and animals are often considered to have no rights at all…

And history, even Christian history, demonstrates that is just what human rights are; human conventions. Just ask Giordano Bruno.

 

[tonyrey]

In a Godless universe human rights are merely human conventions - and animals are often considered to have no rights at all…

Non sequitur. Your criticism presupposes that you believe in human rights!

 

[aclausen]

Non sequitur. Your criticism presupposes that you believe in human rights!

I do believe in human rights, but I know enough of history, even Church history to know that they are neither universal in time or space.

 

[tonyrey]

Non sequitur. Your criticism presupposes that you believe in human rights!

What is the basis of your belief in human rights?

When do we lose our right to respect our conscience?

 

[inocente]

Human rights are based on Christ’s teaching that we all have the same Father in heaven and should treat everyone as our brothers and sisters. There is no other rational basis for the principles of liberty, equality and, above all, fraternity. We would be related solely by an accident of birth and have no moral obligations whatsoever…

Do you agree or disagree? If so why?

Disagree.

In Christianity we have no rights, no one has a right to go to heaven, nor can anyone earn such a right, instead we ask Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy, we all rely on the grace of God. Nor does God give anyone the right to liberty, equality or fraternity, and as a result many people don’t have them.

Human rights as such is largely an Enlightenment concept - rights are conferred by society in exchange for duties to society. Some Christians argue that women and gays have equal rights, and some Christians argue they don’t.

I’d say the bible is concerned instead with justice, the more basic idea of dispensing fairness, but even there some Christians believe they are predestined to go to heaven, and until a few centuries back many believed the bible justified slavery.

So I think it’s more complicated.

 

[tonyrey]

I’m sorry I missed your reply. Judas is to blame! The subject not the person.

In Christianity we have no rights, no one has a right to go to heaven, nor can anyone earn such a right, instead we ask Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy, we all rely on the grace of God. Nor does God give anyone the right to liberty, equality or fraternity, and as a result many people don’t have them.

Jesus told us we have a Father in heaven which implies that we are all brothers and sisters who should love one another, treat one another as equals and respect everyone’s freedom.

Human rights as such is largely an Enlightenment concept - rights are conferred by society in exchange for duties to society. Some Christians argue that women and gays have equal rights, and some Christians argue they don’t.

Like all secular values the Enlightenment concept is arbitrary because in a Godless universe there is no** rational **basis for rights of any description.

I’d say the bible is concerned instead with justice, the more basic idea of dispensing fairness, but even there some Christians believe they are predestined to go to heaven, and until a few centuries back many believed the bible justified slavery.

The Old Testament is concerned with justice but the New is concerned with love, forgiveness and compassion.

So I think it’s more complicated.

Not for a person who believes Jesus died for us and takes Him at His word. “Greater love…”

 

[inocente]

I’m sorry I missed your reply. Judas is to blame! The subject not the person.

Thanks but I’d forgotten anyway.

*Jesus told us we have a Father in heaven which implies that we are all brothers and sisters who should love one another, treat one another as equals and respect everyone’s freedom.

Like all secular values the Enlightenment concept is arbitrary because in a Godless universe there is no** rational ***basis for rights of any description.

The Old Testament is concerned with justice but the New is concerned with love, forgiveness and compassion.

I was arguing that rights is a sophisticated concept which, like paper money, depends on an orderly society. Rights would be worthless in a world in chaos, where civilization has broken down. No rampaging barbarian worries about bits of paper telling him that everyone has a right to the pursuit of happiness.

But the barbarian still has a flicker of moral behavior, written not on paper but on his heart (Rom 2), since God’s law must always be valid, it cannot rely on circumstance or promissory notes.

It for a person who believes Jesus died for us and takes Him at His word. “Greater love…”

I was saying, as above, that the concept of rights is more complicated than justice.