Orthodox Christianity and Human Rights

Neuausgabe 2012
ISBN: 978-90-429-2508-3
Verlag: PEETERS PUB

Buch, Englisch, Band 13, 413 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 239 mm, Gewicht: 680 g

Reihe: Eastern Christian Studies

Orthodox theology and the Orthodox Churches had, and continue to have an

ambiguous relationship towards the concept of Human Rights: principal

approval often stands alongside serious criticism. This is especially true

for those Orthodox Churches which have their centre in a country of the

former Soviet sphere. On the one hand, especially since the fall of

Communism they enjoy religious freedom that forms a central element within

the framework of Human Rights. On the other hand, the transformation

process of the 1990s and the challenge of pluralism and globalization have

all confronted them with aspects of freedom that could not but affect

their stance towards the Human Rights concept in general. This also means,

that doubts and reservations related to this concept came to the fore

again, which had yet existed already decades before. These reservations

focused on such issues as Church and secular society, Church and state,

furthermore on the understanding of central terms such as "freedom",

"dignity", "rights" - central also for an Orthodox anthropology, that

needs to be reconciled with the partly differing approaches behind the

Human Rights concept.
The chapters of this volume try and explore as

much the philosophical and theological as the social, historical and

practical aspects of this complex relationship. Based either on the

discussion of differing theological concepts, or on empirical and concrete

case studies respectively, they clearly show the tensions and fractures

that do exist. On the other hand, in this way they also hint at

possibilities to overcome these tensions, to continue a dialogue that

already has begun, and to avoid the numerous misunderstandings between

East and West which currently tend to form a hindrance to this dialogue at

various points.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bruning, A.

Brüning, A.

Zweerde, E. van der

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein