ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

The contribution of deontological Christian ethics to the contemporary human rights discourse

 

Die bydrae van 'n deontologiese Christelike etiek tot die hedendaagse menseregtedebat

 

 

J.M. Vorster

School for Ecclesiastical Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus. North-West University. Potchefstroom. E-mail: Koos.Vorster@nwu.ac.za

 

 

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ABSTRACT

This article examines the possible role of a Christian deontological ethics in the contemporary human rights debate. It concludes that a Christian deontological ethics in the Reformed tradition can be positively engaged in the human rights debate when Biblical theological topics are transposed into moral directives applicable to the current human rights concerns, such as religious extremism, femicide, ideologies of intolerance and ecocide. As an example of the applicability of a Christian deon-tological ethics from a reformed perspective, the following Biblical topics are investigated: human dignity on the basis of the "imago dei", creation and creational integrity, the kingdom of God and forgiveness. Furthermore, the article proposes that other concepts can be added to this list such as the Biblical idea of life, eschatology, covenant and holiness.

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OPSOMMING

Hierdie artikel gee aandag aan die moontlike rol wat 'n Christe-like deontologiese etiek kan speel in die huidige menseregtediskoers. Die artikel kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat 'n deontologiese Christelike etiek uit die reformatoriese tradisie effektief betrokke kan wees by hierdie debat wanneer Bybelse konsepte getransponeer kan word in etiese beginsels wat toepaslik kan wees in huidige menseregte problematiek soos godsdiensek-stremisme, onderdrukking van die regte van die vrou, ideologieë van onverdraagsaamheid en die vernietiging van ekosisteme. As 'n voorbeeld van die toepaslikheid van 'n deontologiese Christelike etiek uit die reformatoriese tradisie in hierdie verband, word die volgende Bybelse temas getransponeer: menswaardigheid op die basis van die "imago dei", die skepping en die integriteit van die skepping, die koninkryk van God en vergiffenis. Die artikel stel verder voor dat ander Bybelse konsepte getransponeer word soos die Bybelse konsep van lewe, eskatologie, die verbond en heiligheid.

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