'The Glorious Liberty of the Children of God': Toward a Christian Defense of Human Rights

While many human rights lawyers today dismiss premodern Christian rights talk as a betrayal of liberalism, many Christians today dismiss modern Enlightenment rights talk as a betrayal of Christianity. This Article argues, contrary to conventional human rights histories, that Christian ideas and institutions helped to shape many of the rights and liberties that liberal democracies take for granted today. It further argues, contrary to some theological critics, that Christians would do well to remain active defenders and advocates of human rights today, and to recognize how many public, private, penal, and procedural rights in place today are consistent with biblical teachings and Christian tradition, even if some are in need for reform.