FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS: A THEOLOGICAL APPRAISAL
FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS: A THEOLOGICAL APPRAISAL

Summary/Abstract: Freedom of Conscience and Human Rights: A Theological Appraisal. This article explores freedom of conscience as a foundational theological principle underpinning human rights. Conscience is presented as both a divine gift and a moral capacity that affirms the dignity, agency and accountability of the human person. The first part of the study examines key biblical texts that depict conscience as integral to covenantal responsibility, moral discernment, and freedom in Christ – thus providing a theological basis for rights to belief, expression and dissent. The second part traces the theological development of this concept through patristic, Reformation, and modern Protestant thought, highlighting conscience as the ground for religious liberty and civil resistance. The final section offers a constructive Pentecostal public theology of conscience, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in forming the conscience, empowering ethical witness, and sustaining human freedom in society. By integrating these strands, the article argues that freedom of conscience is not only central to Christian theological anthropology but also indispensable to a robust and enduring vision of human rights.

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