Original Research

’n Etiese perspektief op godsdiensvryheid

J.M. Vorster
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi | Vol 37, No 2 | a468 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v37i2.468 | © 2003 J.M. Vorster | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 02 August 2003 | Published: 02 August 2003

About the author(s)

J.M. Vorster, Skool vir Kerkwetenskappe, Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir CHO, South Africa

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Abstract

An ethical perspective on religious freedom

This article investigates the concept of religious freedom from a Christian-ethical perspective. In view of the current reality of religious fundamentalism in a growing heterogeneous world community, the concept of theocracy as justification of religious intolerance is investigated. A survey of the concept of theocracy in the Old and New Testament reveals that the official identification of the state with one particular religion, and the state thus giving prominence to that particular religion, cannot be founded on Christian-ethical principles. This practice is also detrimental to the execution of the principle of religious freedom. The conclusion is that the separation of church and state is the most suitable way to uphold the principle of religious freedom.

Keywords

Church And State; Religious Freedom; Separation Model; Theocracy

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