T.H. Marshall claims that the idea of human rights began in the eighteenth century with the French Revolution and that it evolved into the civil, political, and social rights that we have today. It is true that these specific rights have evolved since then but that’s not where they began. We have to look at the foundations of human rights and then track them back to the beginning of time.
Where do the foundations of “human rights” come from? Many believe they come from God but then we have to ask ourselves who’s God are we talking about? Human rights come from the Christian God that western civilization and western government have been built on. We can’t look at the government’s role in the peoples lives and the rights that the government bestows onto the people without seeing where it all started. Christianity is all about human rights and when we look at human rights through the lens of Christianity we can see that it is something that has always been fought for.
Christianity teaches equality for all people. Galations 3:28 says “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This goes even further then the French Revolution to include women and slaves into the equality that we are all one in the eyes of God. A similar verse, Colossians 3:11 reinforces this idea by saying, “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” And we see it again in James 2:1 “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” There is no difference between any of us and we shouldn’t allow biases to cloud our judgement about our fellow man.
The bible not only talks about equality, it also says that we must fight for it. Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” We must speak up when people’s rights have been taken away and we must fight for those who can not fight for themselves. Psalm 82:3 says, “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.” We must fight for liberty, equality, and fraternity!
I agree that the concept of Human Rights is a wstern construct, and one influenced by Christian thought. Buddhist, Taoist and Muslim nations do not have a philosophical construct of human rights the way we do. So then I take it you rest your concept on God, specifically a Christian God?
ReplyDeleteYes, specifically the Christian God.
DeleteHi I read your post and the following comments. I am not sure if I understand. I see that the concept of Human rights is a western concept and most likely influenced from Christianity. I do not see the connection to the Christian God and rights but I think that is narrowing the scope down a little too narrow, because it does not explain rights as universal, something worldwide. Rights connected to one specific religion leaves out the rest. For example the Arab spring comes to mind, they are predominantly Muslim cultures, their revolutions were based on civil and political rights, since they do not believe in the bible, and it would be hard press to explain the concept of rights to them from the “Christian lens.” Yet their protests where based on demanding rights, such as not governed by a dictator and to have a say in their government. I do not think rights and the Christian God can be linked because then rights would not be a universal concept.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stefany on this, specifically that it's too narrow of a view to connect the Christian God and human rights.
ReplyDeleteSome degree of human rights have existed since the dawn of humanity. Cooperation of members within a society, the sharing of thoughts and ideas, etc., has all added to the advancement of the human race. I agree with the idea that the spreading Christianity and the Bible helped draw attention to human rights within a society, but it's also important to remember how much violence, bloodshed, and complete destruction was brought upon the indigenous cultures of traditional non-believers. The Bible and so-called "Christian values" brings a message of equality and justice only to members of a Christian society, and even that has not been remotely followed throughout the histories of European Christian nations where serfs and slaves were not extended personal freedoms which the Bible claims to preach. I believe human rights and basic freedoms should be extended to everybody of sound mind regardless of race, gender, or religion, but I do not believe one needs to consult the preachings of a "Christian God" to come to this conclusion.
Amazingly well done!! I think that you were able to use the bible to defend your argument that all rights should be extended to every person regardless of race, religion or sex. I also believe that rights are a Western developed idea. It is amazing that you were able to justify all rights being granted to anyone in this argument and it is also quite commendable that you used a verse from the bible to strengthen your argument, when you said that we should stand up for those who aren't able to defend our rights. I do, however, believe that many believe this without looking at the Bible or at Christianity and there are many people that hold the same beliefs and exercise them without turning to religion for this idea. I think that the perception of rights lies in the eyes and mind of the beholder. Great post!! You were able to defend your idea of rights very well by using religion as a basis!
ReplyDeleteI can see that your focus on rights is based on a Bibilical point of view,and from the point of view of Christianity. Although Christianity does provide many moral ideas that are good to follow in Society, it is somewhat ironic to use a specific religion to argue about equal rights. Much of the Text you reference (you did not list your biblical source. This is important because many modern biblical publications do not translate from the original language (i.e, Greek) of the original writigs,(i.e, The Septuagint in itself was a Greek translation of the Old Testament) but use the King James or a newer version and translate from that. thus some texts may be mis-quoted or taken out of context of their original purpose and meaning)A Christian Apologetics class would help you in making a significant case using biblical scripture) It is hard to pick and chose bibilical references in saying that "the bible says we have to have rights" it is a collection of writings that spanned a few thousand years. There are very few laws or rights that would stand that test of time. There are things in Deuteronomy that are part of the law of that time, that Jewish strongly adhere to, yet, I doubt a Christian would. That in itself is anther topic. The rights you are referring to are New Testament rights. In John 8:5 the very apostles who Jesus was leading wanted to stone a prostitue based on the bible they knew, was that their right since their bible said so? "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman". The law they are referring to is the Torah. The Jewish philosphy upholds the Torah, because that is their right. Your reference to Proverbs 31, is taken a bit out of context, it was a proverb of What King Lemuels mother had given him as advice for running his kingdom. (To have a complete understanding of this proverb you would have to do significant research http://doctor.claudemariottini.com/2009/05/who-was-king-lemuel.html ) The mother though is not discussing rights in this proverb but how her son should be behaving as a king in reguards to overindulging,specifically in reguard to alcohol consumption. "It is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive the oppressed of their rights"..to a sober leader. She wasnt specifying what those rights were, maybe it was Sunday lunch, we dont know... "speak for those who cannot speak for themselves" At this time there were severe plagues of Leprosy, a disease that attacks the upper respritory track, the peripheral nerves, and causes legions. Rampant sread of this disease left many people deaf or mute, or just unable to speak because of the sores in their mouth and throat. Besides leprosy, there was a burning disease (syphilus?)it is referred to in Ps 38,as David complains "Oh Lord, do not rebuke me with your anger, my wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly," ophthalmiac, epilepsy, insanity, and nervous diseases. It was the Kings responsibility to be sure that he took care to judge these people fairly and his mother was advising him to watch his drink so he would do just that. Biblical ideas are good morals to adhere to, but has too many conflictin points of views throught out to be a good foundation for an arguement to base rights on "God Given".
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