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Human Rights and Human
Dignity
John Warwick Montgomery
(Canadian
Institute for Law, Theology and Public Policy Inc. 1995, pp. 319)
Reviewed by Dr. Irving Hexham, University of
Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Anyone who has ever read John Warwick
Montgomery's books knows that he is a creative writer who defends conservative,
evangelical religion in a highly polemic, well argued, rational manner. This
book, I am pleased to say, is vintage Montgomery. Even someone who totally
rejects his religious and philosophical assumptions will find the book
challenging and provocative.
What is especially refreshing about this
particular book is the depth of commitment Montgomery displays toward human
rights and the dignity of individuals. Far too often theological conservatives
appear politically reactionary if not downright fascist. No one can accuse
Montgomery of these things. He is a deeply committed Christian who grounds
human rights in Biblical revelation.
Many readers in religious studies departments
will be unhappy with the way Montgomery dismisses, indeed challenges and
attempts to refute, non-Christian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism
and Islam. But, it ought to be remembered that for an evangelical even to think
about these issues is a major achievement, and despite their brevity,
Montgomery's arguments deserve consideration. If experts in world religions
dislike what Montgomery says, surely they can also be faulted for writing
endless monographs on the minutiae of textual issues while almost entirely
ignoring such basic and critical issues as human rights. Therefore, if
Montgomery irritates, his attacks should be taken as a challenge to show where
he is wrong and how other religious traditions really do promote human rights
rather than simply dismissing his entire argument.
To be quite honest I enjoyed and appreciated
this book because, whatever its shortcomings, it deals with a vitally important
contemporary issue and shows a remarkable sensitivity to human suffering. It is
a book all evangelicals and other conservative Christians ought to be
encouraged to read because of its rejection of the reactionary tendencies so
often associated with conservative religion. But, it's not only for
conservatives. Anyone interested in the justification of human rights or the
relationship between law and religion will find many ideas, arguments, and
issues to challenge them.
Many readers will be appalled by Montgomery's
unashamed defense of traditional Christianity, but if they are and if they
reject his theological arguments, the problem of defending human rights still
remains, and as Montgomery points out, liberals have been lamentably weak in
providing some important answers to key questions. Finally, despite his
unabashed conservative theology, it ought to be noted that Montgomery defends
the notion of a plural society and, while criticizing other religions, retains
a respect for them and a strong commitment to their right to exist. In
conclusion, this is a book which I strongly recommend.
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