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THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF RELIGION, SECULARISM, AND HUMAN RIGHTS: Prospects for Islamic Societies

THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF RELIGION, SECULARISM, AND HUMAN RIGHTS: Prospects for Islamic Societies Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im Religion, secularism, and human rights are interdependent, and the apparent tensions between any or among all of them can be overcome by their conceptual synergy. Given the obviously problematic features of their relationships, however, the interdependence of the three should be deliberately reinforced and stressed now; indeed each of the three should undergo an internal transformation to strengthen the already existing synergy. I am using the term synergy to indicate that the internal transformation of each paradigm or discourse (religion, secularism, human rights) is not only necessary for promoting relationships among the three but is also facilitated by it: each of the three tends toward transformation in favor of the other two. Each needs the other two to fulfill its own rationale and to sustain its relevance and validity for its own constituency. I hasten to add that I am not suggesting the collapse of all related ideas, institutions, and policies into the framework I am describing. My purpose here is to highlight the dynamics of one complex process that might contribute to individual freedom and social justice. Moreover, while I believe that what I am proposing is potentially applicable to various religious and political http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Common Knowledge Duke University Press

THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF RELIGION, SECULARISM, AND HUMAN RIGHTS: Prospects for Islamic Societies

An-Na'im, Abdullahi Ahmed
Common Knowledge , Volume 11 (1) – Jan 1, 2005
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Publisher
Duke University Press
Copyright
Copyright 2005 by Duke University Press
ISSN
0961-754X
eISSN
1538-4578
DOI
10.1215/0961754X-11-1-56
Publisher site
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Abstract

Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im Religion, secularism, and human rights are interdependent, and the apparent tensions between any or among all of them can be overcome by their conceptual synergy. Given the obviously problematic features of their relationships, however, the interdependence of the three should be deliberately reinforced and stressed now; indeed each of the three should undergo an internal transformation to strengthen the already existing synergy. I am using the term synergy to indicate that the internal transformation of each paradigm or discourse (religion, secularism, human rights) is not only necessary for promoting relationships among the three but is also facilitated by it: each of the three tends toward transformation in favor of the other two. Each needs the other two to fulfill its own rationale and to sustain its relevance and validity for its own constituency. I hasten to add that I am not suggesting the collapse of all related ideas, institutions, and policies into the framework I am describing. My purpose here is to highlight the dynamics of one complex process that might contribute to individual freedom and social justice. Moreover, while I believe that what I am proposing is potentially applicable to various religious and political

Journal

Common Knowledge – Duke University Press

Published: Jan 1, 2005

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