The Anglican Examiner |
| Illuminating Religion and Public Affairs Around the World |
Seeing
Christ
In
Human
Rights
| The Anglican Examiner, Copyright by Donn Mitchell, 2010 |
| Learn how to stop it. |
| Archive |
| The Church and Labor (coming soon) |
| ...and show us a vision of a world made new. |
| Julia Cameron on perserverance. $14.95 |
| Advice from the former director of Episcopal Relief and Development. $24.00 |
| Author Sees Via Media Between Shari'a and Human Rights |
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The discussion poses the following questions:
When you think of your experience of Jesus—in scripture, tradition,
reason, and spiritual experience:
—How does he communicate that God wants us to have life?
—Does he affirm or in some way model liberty or freedom?
—Does Jesus have "security of person" in his earthly ministry?
—Does Jesus want "security of person" for us now?
When you think of your experience of Jesus—in scripture, tradition,
reason, and spiritual experience:
—How does he communicate that God wants us to have life?
—Does he affirm or in some way model liberty or freedom?
—Does Jesus have "security of person" in his earthly ministry?
—Does Jesus want "security of person" for us now?
The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, David
Chillingworth, has criticized an attempt to portray the
Labour Party as the party of faith, describing it as an
attempt to “shrink-wrap” the faith to fit the manifesto of
a political party.
Chillingworth was one of several religious leaders to
react unfavorably to a recent speech by the Scottish
Secretary Jim Murphy, entitled “Faith, Family, and
Fairness.” Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland
leaders also criticized it.
Simon Johnson, Scottish political editor of the Telegraph,
wrote that Murphy’s speech asserted that the Labour
Party was founded on the principles of Christian
Socialism and had led the trade union struggle for the
rights of the working class but was also concerned
about people improperly claiming benefits, immigration,
and patriotism.
Chillingworth assailed Murphy’s principles as “the flat-
footed values of fairness. They are the politics of the
supermarket checkout.” He said they invited Britons to
“revisit our outdated nationalisms, to pursue those whom
we deem to be work-shy, to close our borders to the
poor of the world on the basis of a ‘firm and fair’
immigration policy.
“What about the bigger visions – a new vision of how
peace can be built, how creation can be honoured, how
the poor can be fed, how the weak can be protected,
how an inclusive and tolerant society can be built?”
More at Thinking Anglicans.
Chillingworth, has criticized an attempt to portray the
Labour Party as the party of faith, describing it as an
attempt to “shrink-wrap” the faith to fit the manifesto of
a political party.
Chillingworth was one of several religious leaders to
react unfavorably to a recent speech by the Scottish
Secretary Jim Murphy, entitled “Faith, Family, and
Fairness.” Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland
leaders also criticized it.
Simon Johnson, Scottish political editor of the Telegraph,
wrote that Murphy’s speech asserted that the Labour
Party was founded on the principles of Christian
Socialism and had led the trade union struggle for the
rights of the working class but was also concerned
about people improperly claiming benefits, immigration,
and patriotism.
Chillingworth assailed Murphy’s principles as “the flat-
footed values of fairness. They are the politics of the
supermarket checkout.” He said they invited Britons to
“revisit our outdated nationalisms, to pursue those whom
we deem to be work-shy, to close our borders to the
poor of the world on the basis of a ‘firm and fair’
immigration policy.
“What about the bigger visions – a new vision of how
peace can be built, how creation can be honoured, how
the poor can be fed, how the weak can be protected,
how an inclusive and tolerant society can be built?”
More at Thinking Anglicans.
| March begins with St. David's Day and commemorates St. Joseph and numerous others along the way. But none stands out in the English-speaking world as brightly as St. Patrick. |
| The text of Article Three reads: |
While the belief that Patrick
drove the snakes out of Ireland
is a cherished fiction (fossil
remains of snakes have never
been found in Ireland!), what is
documented truth is that the
Celtic saint was one of the first
Christian voices against slavery.
As such, he is a fitting patron
for The Anglican Examiner’s
on-going discussion, “Seeing
Christ in Human Rights.”
During March, the discussion
will focus on Article Three of
the Universal Declaration.
drove the snakes out of Ireland
is a cherished fiction (fossil
remains of snakes have never
been found in Ireland!), what is
documented truth is that the
Celtic saint was one of the first
Christian voices against slavery.
As such, he is a fitting patron
for The Anglican Examiner’s
on-going discussion, “Seeing
Christ in Human Rights.”
During March, the discussion
will focus on Article Three of
the Universal Declaration.
March 'Seeing Christ' Discussion Looks
at Article Three: Life, Liberty, and
Security of Person
at Article Three: Life, Liberty, and
Security of Person
Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and
security of person.
security of person.
A number of thoughtful
Christians have already
considered these questions
and posted their responses
here. Readers of The
Anglican Examiner are
invited to reflect on these
comments and offer their
own insights and/or pose
additional questions.
Participate in "Seeing Christ
in Human Rights" here.
Christians have already
considered these questions
and posted their responses
here. Readers of The
Anglican Examiner are
invited to reflect on these
comments and offer their
own insights and/or pose
additional questions.
Participate in "Seeing Christ
in Human Rights" here.
Scottish Bishop Raps Labour
Party's 'Shrink-Wrapped' Faith
Party's 'Shrink-Wrapped' Faith
Writing in the current issue of Dissent, philosopher and
human rights activist Austin Dacey points to a potential
middle ground between Shari’a (Islamic) law and human
rights.
human rights activist Austin Dacey points to a potential
middle ground between Shari’a (Islamic) law and human
rights.
“When faced with the creaking legal architecture of
Islamic states, human rights organizations have had three
options: dereliction, demolition, or renovation—abandon
it and hope that it will fall on its own without hurting
anyone; stand back to burn, tear, or blow it down; or
reconstruct it,” Dacey writes.
Islamic states, human rights organizations have had three
options: dereliction, demolition, or renovation—abandon
it and hope that it will fall on its own without hurting
anyone; stand back to burn, tear, or blow it down; or
reconstruct it,” Dacey writes.
The complete text of the Dissent article can be found
here. Other articles by Austin Dacey are linked form his
website, www.austindacey.com.
here. Other articles by Austin Dacey are linked form his
website, www.austindacey.com.
However, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
(EIPR) recently won a victory for the religious freedom
of some 2,000 Baha’is by making a case through Shari’a,
rather than in spite of it. Dacey’s article explains how
and why EIPR successfully argued before the Egyptian
court that the government’s discriminatory treatment of
Baha’is represented a “selective and restrictive”
interpretation of Shari’a, which contravened its precepts.
(EIPR) recently won a victory for the religious freedom
of some 2,000 Baha’is by making a case through Shari’a,
rather than in spite of it. Dacey’s article explains how
and why EIPR successfully argued before the Egyptian
court that the government’s discriminatory treatment of
Baha’is represented a “selective and restrictive”
interpretation of Shari’a, which contravened its precepts.
The article suggests that directly engaging religious law,
rather than challenging or ignoring it, can establish a
middle ground. (See "When Rights are Not Right"
below.)
rather than challenging or ignoring it, can establish a
middle ground. (See "When Rights are Not Right"
below.)