The Metaphysical Foundation of Religious Freedom
The Metaphysical Foundation of Religious Freedom
Author(s): Enrique MartínezSubject(s): Metaphysics, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Philosophy of Middle Ages, Philosophy of Religion
Published by: Fundacja »Lubelska Szkoła Filozofii Chrześcijańskiej«
Keywords: religious freedom; Divine Goodness; creation; metaphysics; ethics; religion; Thomas Aquinas;
Summary/Abstract: Religious freedom is a property of human life in society. In order to find its ultimate foundation, one must go to man's place in the universe, created by God to communicate His goodness and ordered to Himself as an end. Man participates so in the perfection of esse that he can govern himself and attain God through knowledge and love. This order is so ingrained in human nature that St. Thomas Aquinas identifies the natural inclination as the most proper to man to know the truth about God. From there, moral demands derive, among which there is religious freedom, understood as the immunity from coercion in society to be able to render due worship to God. Nevertheless, the perfection of the religious freedom consists in man being communicative of his religiosity with giving and liberal love.
Journal: Człowiek w Kulturze
- Issue Year: 2022
- Issue No: 32
- Page Range: 219-233
- Page Count: 15
- Language: English