Human rights in the light of the Gospel

This article by Nicolas Lossky examines the question of human rights from an Orthodox theological perspective, in dialogue with the major international legal texts of the twentieth century, notably the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. Adopting both a critical and constructive approach, the author first shows that the universal use of the notion of human dignity conceals a profound ambiguity of language, with the same terms serving to justify opposing practices. He then establishes a fundamental distinction between a "defensive" conception of rights, centered on the individual and their own interests, and an evangelical conception, oriented toward self-giving for others. The theological contribution of the article lies in the articulation between Christology, Orthodox anthropology, and ethical commitment: the defense of human rights finds its ultimate foundation in the deification of humanity accomplished by Christ, the second Adam.