Biblical spirituality and human rights

Abstract

After delineating the central concepts of this paper-the Bible, Spirituality, Biblical Spirituality and human rights-the contribution of Eckart Otto to the current understanding of ancient Jerusalemite origins of one central aspect of modern human rights culture is highlighted. Two Pentateuch texts are discussed in this light: Genesis 1:26-27 and Deuteronomy 13:2-10. Insights from these deliberations may assist people today in considering two recent developments relating to religion in the modern world: court decisions in Canada and South Africa on religion as a secular matter (drawing on the work of I. Benson), and the debate on the wearing of Muslim headscarves in France (drawing on the work of Gerrit Brand).