Human Rights and Human Dignity

by John Warwick Montgomery

Book Overview

No one is against human rights. It is obviously a good thing-until one starts to think about the meaning of the term and its implications. Then it shows itself to be an idea that polarizes,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1896363016
• ISBN13: 9781896363011
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Canadian Institute for Law, Theology & Public
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fair and Scriptural Reckoning of this Vital Area of Culture

What with China and all the concern worldwide for human rights and dignity, this book should have a resurgence. Montgomery is adept at pointing out the foibles on both sides, liberalism and conservative Christianity.He seeks in his exploration of the topic to answer the question: What rights does one have just because he's human?"Suprising what this respected Christian thinker and author comes up with for his answer, especially since he proclaims: "Theological reflection will in fact turn out to be the only route by which the dilemmas of human rights can be resolved."

Human rights grounded in a transcendent perspective

Montgomery is a lawyer, theologian and human rights specialist. He has recently retired as Professor of Law & Humanities at the University of Luton (England). He previously taught in theology and jurisprudence in North America, and for three years served as Director of Studies at the International Institute of Human Rights. In this text Montgomery surveys the field of human rights. He examines existing protections, covenants, conventions, and non-government organizations upholding human rights. He then shifts over to an intriguing discussion about the definition of human rights and assesses a number of competing positions. After weighing the existing definitions as inadequate, Montgomery defines 'rights' as 'entitlements' which implies interpersonal relationships. He then examines several major philosophical schools of thought such as legal realism, utilitarianism, Ronald Dworkin, John Finnis, Roscoe Pound, Julius Stone, John Rawls and Alan Gewirth. He assesses Marxist theories of human rights and policy-oriented theories. In this handsome survey Montgomery not only explains the various positions but offers some trenchant criticisms. Montgomery argues that the philosophical apporaches have failed to uphold human dignity and argues for a transcendent perspective. He explores the positions of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish views and highlights inadequacies in their respective approaches. Montgomery then sets forth a case to show that the Christian faith can offer the necessary "grounding" for ultimate standards concerning human rights and human dignity. In a gem of a chapter Montgomery applies the canons of jurisprudential evidence to the New Testament documents and argues persuasively that the portrait of Jesus being God in human flesh is vindicated. The evidence for his bodily resurrection passes the necessary tests for admissability as reliable data in court. From here Jesus' deity is established and the credentials of Biblical revelation are grounded. Montgomery then explores the Christian dimension to human rights. Montgomery underscores weaknesses in Liberal protestant, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox circles in their theories of rights. He also underscores the weaknesses of Christian fundamentalists who identify their faith with right wing politics. Montgomery maintains freedom of religion, whilst commending the Christian answer to the reader. This book serves as an excellent survey of the subject and engages the reader to consider the case for Christianity. Irrespective of whether one agrees with Montgomery or not, the book stands as a solid contribution to the subject and is a good primer for the novice. The book includes as appendices various legal covenants on huma rights. This is a book I highly commend for serious reading and reflection.