Does God Believe in Human Rights? a Reflection

Abstract

The author's experience as an international lawyer working in the area of human-rights protection permits him to observe that any answer that is given to the question - what do we mean by God? - is unlikely to remain unchallenged by those who seek to answer the second question - what do we mean by human rights? - which is almost as problematic. If we look for the resolution of a conflict between religion and human rights from within the body of human rights law itself, the result is not difficult to predict. The ultimate source of resolution of this inevitable conflict lies within one component of that 'problem' itself. When religious folk are called on to examine themselves in the light of the human rights paradigm, they may find they have much to learn and teach. But whether or not God believes in human rights, God only knows!. Keywords: God; human rights; religious folk