Human rights between Orthodox anthropology and Western rationalism Cover Image

Drepturile omului între antropologia ortodoxă și raționalismul occidental
Human rights between Orthodox anthropology and Western rationalism

Author(s): Anton-Viorel Pop
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Anthropology, Theology and Religion, Systematic Theology, Eastern Orthodoxy
Published by: EDITURA RENAȘTEREA

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we will address one of the most discussed issues of the last 80 years, namely human rights. The preoccupation on this subject, taking advantage of Orthodox and Christian theology, involves an approach to anthropological premises. Human dignity is considered to be the purpose of human rights. This is mentioned in the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but the document itself does not define precisely the subject of rights, namely man. The Orthodox perspective admits that human dignity springs from the quality of the man’s image of the Creator (Fc. 1, 27), and a harmful life is an endless prosperity to perfection. The foundation of human rights can only be sought in human nature, and the ultimate hope of the person and humanity can only materialize in God. Although Orthodox doctrine is consistent with the core points of human rights (life, freedom, self-determination, equality, etc.), it does not subscribe to everything that is proposed as “human rights”, especially when human nature is redefined. The placement of human rights on such a theoretical pedestal is rather simplified. The zeal of reason appears as a substitute for the faith. Removing a concrete man in the name of humanity is an absurd ideology that ultimately becomes anti- Christian and inhumane.

  • Issue Year: 2/2019
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 101-109
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Romanian