Christianity and Human Rights: Christians and the Struggle for Global Justice

by Frederick M. Shepherd, Thomas Bamat, Patrick Byrne, Dana Dillion, Robert Drinan S.J

Overview

In Christianity and Human Rights: Christians and the Struggle for Global Justice, Frederick M. Shepherd has collected essays by scholars and activists who, in a wide variety of ways, confront the issue of Christianity's role in the burgeoning movement for human rights. The volume's contributors provide diverse perspectives on the theology behind the idea of human rights, the debate over the its meaning, and the evolution of the struggle for human rights. A wide variety of disciplinary perspectives are represented, from economics, political science and law to history, philosophy and theology. The essays also represent a broad political spectrum, including specific accounts from activists participating in the struggle for human rights. Separate chapters focus on cases from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Christianity and Human Rights begins and ends with attempts to synthesize current theory and practice, acknowledging both Christianity's great success and its failures in defending basic human rights around the globe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739124727
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	08/16/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	294
Product dimensions:	6.39(w) x 9.43(h) x 0.97(d)

About the Author

Frederick M. Shepherd is chair of the political science department and associate professor of internaional relations at Samford University.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction: The Political and Theological Evolution of Christianity and Human Rights
Part 2 Section One: Past Sins, Future Promise: Overivews of Christianity and Human Rights
Chapter 3 Chapter 1: Deliver Us from Evil: Genocide and the Christian World
Chapter 4 Chapter 2: "The Best of Times, the Worst of Times:" A Dickensian Era of Religious Rights
Part 5 Section Two: Religious Freedom and Human Rights
Chapter 6 Chapter 3: Toward a More Comprehensive Religious Freedom
Chapter 7 Chapter 4: The Enduring Alliance of Religious Freedom and Democratic Rights
Chapter 8 Chapter 5: Religious Freedom and International Law
Chapter 9 Chapter 6: Democracy and Human Dignity
Part 10 Section Three: Theological and Philosophical Foundations for Human Rights
Chapter 11 Chapter 7: Universal Rights or Personal Relations?
Chapter 12 Chapter 8: Human Rights, the Common Good and Our Supernatural Destiny
Chapter 13 Chapter 9: Bozena Komarkova: Toward an Existential Christian Philosophy of Human Rights
Chapter 14 Chapter 10: Catholic Social Teaching, Economic Rights, and Globalization
Chapter 15 Chapter 11: Rights, Capabilites and Human Flourishing
Part 16 Section Four: Case Studies
Chapter 17 Chapter 12: The Rights of the Poor: Christian Theology and Human Rights Practices in Latin America's Adean Region
Chapter 18 Chapter 13: Christianity and Human Rights in Vietnam: The Case of Ethnic Minorities (1975–2004)
Chapter 19 Chapter 14: From Human Rights to Human Wrongs: The Dramatic Turn of the South African Pentecostal Movement on Human Rights Issues
Part 20 Conclusion: Conclusing Remarks of Christianity and Human Rights

Editorial Reviews

The relationship between Christianity and human rights is often commented upon, but seldom explored. Christianity and Human Rights: Christians and the Struggle for Global Justice is a sustained exploration of the topic by eminent scholars who are committed to presenting this relationship in all its complexity. The introduction, theoretical chapters, case studies, and conclusion illuminate the topic with insights from a variety of disciplines and traditions of Christian thought. The book is indispensable for anyone seeking to comprehend the relationship between Christian faith and the quest for human flourishing.

Steve Haynes

In Christianity and Human Rights Frederick Sheperd has assembled a strong collection of contributions to one of the fastest growing areas of research in international relations, political thought, development studies and the study religion: the history, theory and future practice of human rights…this volume contains more valuable contributions than one review can acknowledge. I believe scholars in a variety of fields will appreciate the insightful, clearly argued contributions in this volume. It is a rare example of Christian institutions and arguments while furthering the struggle for global justice.

Simona Goi

Christianity and Human Rights: Christians and the Struggle for Global Justice is a clarion call for the vigorous application of faith to the pressing injustices of our time. Articles by Jonathan Warner, James Waller, Jean Bethke Elhstain, Nico Horn, and editor Fredrick Shepherd were of particular note. The book is easy to read and well structured, covering a breadth of compelling contexts. Readers are offered both a foundational rationale as well as a deeply personal challenge to their own moral responsibilities. Few topics could be more prescient for people of faith in these deeply troubled times.

Andrew Christian van Gorder