VEGETABLES, CONSCIENCE AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: WHAT DOES RELIGIOUS LIBERTY HAVE TO DO WITH HUMAN DIGNITY?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6445682Keywords:
Religious freedom, Conscience, Human dignity, Vegetables, Worship, Human rightsAbstract
Religious freedom is perceived as a basic human right, and one that should be respected by people and governments around the world. Buy why? Is it because of its economic or political advantages, or the benefits it brings? These are good things, yet more important is the philosophical basis of religious freedom, which needs to be anchored in human dignity, a central concept in the biblical and Christian worldview. As such, freedom of religion is not something governments must grant but something they must recognize and respect. And if one is to respect another’s conviction to eat only vegetables, how much more should one respect another’s convictions whenit comes to religion and worship based on the dictates of one’s onscience? Yet, it should not be forgotten that religious freedom is one of a package of rights, privileges and responsibilities that man has as he fulfils his mission as God’s viceregent on earth.
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