Universal Rights

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Our understanding of human rights is based on human dignity. In line with the biblical worldview, we affirm human dignity as beings created in the image of God. Therefore life has intrinsic value and is most precious. This human dignity is the basis for human rights.

The founders of the United States of America stated the following in their Declaration of Independence: 

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

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These rights are not granted by government, but endowed by the Creator. They should, however, be protected and defended by the state. As a global organisation or a world body, the United Nations Organisation started with these basic premises: ensuring human dignity by upholding human rights.

The biblical worldview sees these 'unalienable Rights' as coming from divine origin. This has, of course, a religious element to it, as the roots of this understanding comes partly from the Judeo-Christian tradition that has shaped Western thought to large extents. Author and historian Tom Holland noted the difference between ancient cultures and our present one and credits Christianity for transforming the world. Christian values had a profound effect on today's understanding of human rights, although Christianity does not always get the credit it deserves for these achievements. 

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Human rights are to guard and guarantee safety and freedom. 'Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness' are not just American ideals, but are inherent to humans who know that we are meant to live, be free and be happy. Unfortunately, today's existence for many people is difficult and challenging. Injustice is causing suffering, sometimes unbearable suffering. When Islamic State was ravaging through the Middle East, millions suffered in ways unknown since the horrors of World War II or the atrocities under the Ottoman Empire. These victims were not free to pursue life, liberty and happiness, but were robbed of these basics rights. Unfortunately, there were periods in history where the institutional, politically-driven Church failed humanity and was responsible for causing suffering. Whenever Christians deviate from the Word of God and its morality, things get out of hand. 

Freedom and safety is something we might take for granted in the West, but it is something many millions paid a heavy price for. Already World War I (1914-18) was supposed to be 'the war to end all wars,' only to be followed up with an even worse war. The horrors of World War II (1939-45) and its genocide against Jews should never be forgotten. The instability of the Cold War that followed World War II and the crimes against humanity committed under Communism, especially in China under Moa and in Russia under Stalin, which cost the lives of at least 100 million people in many parts of the world, should remain a staunch warning about the dangers of authoritarian forms of government. Genocides in Rwanda (1994) and Bosnia (1995) have shown that life is fragile and conflicts are tragic. We cannot revert to tribalism or ethnic policies. Boko Haram with its evil ideology has killed thousands and displaced millions in Nigeria and the region, and it appears that this suffering cannot be stopped. The current war in Ukraine shows how tragic the effects of war are and how one conflict has the potential to involve the whole world, especially with much foreign economic interests. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing suffering on all sides and peace seems difficult to achieve. In recent years more peace agreements have been forged in the Middle East and we all hope for a better future with peace and prosperity for everyone. But the massacres of 7 October 2023 and the war against Hamas has unravelled extremely much and the potential for regional expansion is alarming.

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Much of the root causes of conflicts and wars in history are rooted in hateful ideologies. Authoritarian rulers have used such in their inhumane quest for absolute power that corrupted them absolutely at the expense of human life. Daniel Goleman, in his introduction to Vikrot E. Frankl's Yes to Life in spite of Everything, writes that 'simple truths and basic human values need defending' against propaganda that destroys 'any sense of meaning, human ethics, and the value of life' (6-7). Nazi propaganda struck 'at the very value of existence itself, asserting the worthlessness of life,' over against which Frankl advocated a 'life-affirming response' (4-5). If human dignity was our highest value - because it should be our greatest good - things would look very different. 

Socialist propaganda saw the individual only as part of the collective, robbing the individual of dignity and freedom. Abuses on a large scale become possible if the individual is nothing in and of itself and robbed of intrinsic value. These collectivist ideologies are very dangerous, but often appear as 'wolves in sheep clothing.' But humans are thirsty for human dignity, as Nelson Mandela said. The Creator has endowed each and every one with such inalienable rights!