RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE BIBLE Cover Image

VJERSKA SLOBODA U BIBLIJI
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE BIBLE

Author(s): Ivica Čatić
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Biblical studies
Published by: Katolički bogoslovni fakultet u Đakovu
Keywords: Bible; Old Testament; New Testament; monotheism; religious freedom; tolerance;

Summary/Abstract: Starting from the understanding of religious freedom as understood by the European Convention on Human Rights, under the theme »Religious Freedom in the Bible« the paper examines an individual’s right to their own free choice, practicing and further transmission of religious beliefs, and possible restrictions on that right. The paper first brings the relationship between Israel’s monotheism and universalism and its historical development. It then makes a distinction between religious freedom of Israelites – who are bound by the Sinai Covenant to the Yahwistic monotheism – and other nations for whom the Old Testament recognizes the right to their own religious affiliation, always maintaining ethical demands. The New Testament on the one hand manifests Jesus’ willingness to meet with all people and the absence of any demand for accepting either Judaism or Christianity – actually, there is no mention of the religious affiliation of foreign people that Jesus meets.

  • Issue Year: 21/2013
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 599-608
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Croatian