As Christians say our rights come from God--what does the Bible have to say about human rights?

Question

The Golden Rule not only predates Christianity, it has to do with personal behavior not with human rights.

So anyone who answers with that gets thumbs down.

Answer 1

Human rights and bible rights cannot coexist. Many people do not conform to the bible because it does not fit their lifestyle choices, even though they call themeselves religious. That is why so many religions are corrupt and are considered hypocritical.

Answer 2

Old Testament:

Now let us look at Exodus 21:20-21

"If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property."

Notice how the Bible doesn't recognize the slave male or female as a normal human being. If the master beats his servant to death, then the master will not get the death punishment or penalty. He will only be punished, but not to death. This punishment mighty be even a light one such as a single light whip since the punishment was not determined.


Let us look at Deuteronomy 24:7

"If a man is caught kidnapping one of his brother Israelites and treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. You must purge the evil from among you."

This verse quite clearly states that the Israeli is better in human value than any other human being in the eyes of GOD. If an Israeli is treated as a slave, then we would have the world's greatest problems. But however, it is ok to treat others as slaves, and to kill them too according to Exodus 21:20 above.

And many more, just too long to type!

Answer 3

I am a christian and to make the point, I feel that the Bible's stance on Human Rights is best summed up by Christ's statement Do unto others as you would have done unto you.


If you treat a person how you want to be treated then you are indeed practicing a form of Human Rights similar to what philosopher Rosseau was calling for. He called for a circular style of human rights where the rights of one is transferred to the next and so on. This would mean that you are interests are being served by your neighbor. And when it all comes around everyone sitting there treating the next man as they would want to be treated forms that "circular" style of human rights I mentioned.

God created the Earth and no one should ever feel their rights are something that wasn't given to them from birth. Any restraints placed on your rights by another man is simply them breaking the rules this is not a statement against the premise that your right indeed came from a higher power.

I believe from birth you are born with certain human rights. This is true of everyone regardless of religion. So if you're born a muslim, a jew, a aethiest whatever it does not matter. You have human rights that come with being a human being.

From there you may or may not attribute them to God but the reasoning from a religious stand point is simple, God created the world and we are his children, we must act in a manner that has been stated.

An aetheist may look at the source differently but they would agree that we do or at least should have some basic rights that we are born with.

I hope I helped.

Answer 4

The Bible implies the basic rights of individuals, the right to life, the right to make it out of the womb without intentional interference from another person, the right to liberty, to live where we wish, how we wish(within the law) and to do as we wish(within the law) and the right to pursue our goals and passions. We have the right to reject or accept God, to live for Him or without Him. Of course, rights come with responsibilities, and there are consequences, good or bad for every right we embrace. If you look around the world, it is the countries based on a Judao/Christian ethic where human rights are most prevalent.

Answer 5

In the book of Romans this is addressed.

We are to follow the law of the powers that be. Even if they seem or are wrong, God states that he knows this and to remember that he and he alone is in control for the outcome.

THe verse is

Romans Chapter 13 verse 1-3

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whatsoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same;

Basically, follow the rules of your government, but when the government is bad (God knows) do not resist the government, but continue to do what you know is good.

Answer 6

The bible has one of the best and easiest principles to follow on human rights:

Treat others as you would like to be treated yoursefl. Its often called the golden rule.

Answer 7

The Bible says "do unto others as you would have others do to you."

Politics say "your rights end, where my rights begin."

Somehow, I think they're kind of giving the same message, but the first one seems a little easier to swallow. Instead of saying, "you can't do this because it wrongs me!" it says "would you like to be treated this way?" I think empathy is a great source for human rights.

best wishes.

Answer 8

not much, I believe.

The framers of the US Constitution wanted to indicate that rights were not bestowed on people by kings, governments, committees, political parties, etc, so they stated that men are endowed by their CREATOR. Now, the term creator can possibly be correlated with God, but I don't think that's what the framers had in mind.

Answer 9

The bible says to obey the laws of the land.

Answer 10

Read the 10 commandments, You will see them in the Constitution and the bill of rights!