Does Human Rights Need God?

<DIV>When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted in 1945 French Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain observed We agree on these rights providing we are not asked why. With the 'why' the dispute begins. The world since then has continued to agree to disagree fearing that an open discussion of the divergent rationales for human rights would undermine the consensus of the Declaration. Is it possible however that current failures to protect human rights may stem from this tacit agreement to avoid addressing the underpinnings of human rights?<br><br>This consequential volume presents leading scholars activists and officials from four continents who dare to discuss the why behind human rights. Appraising the current situation from diverse religious perspectives -- Jewish Protestant Orthodox Muslim Confucian and secular humanist -- the contributors openly address the question whether God is a necessary part of human rights. Despite their widely varying commitments and approaches the authors affirm that an investigation into the why of human rights need not devolve into irreconcilable conflict.<br><br><B>Contributors:</B>Khaled Abou El Fadl<br>Barbra Barnett<br>Elizabeth M. Bucar<br>Jean Bethke Elshtain<br>Robert P. George<br>Vigen Guroian<br>Louis Henkin<br>Courtney W. Howland<br>David Novak<br>Sari Nusseibeh<br>Martin Palouš<br>Robert A. Seiple<br>Max L. Stackhouse<br>Charles Villa-Vicencio<br>Anthony C. Yu</DIV>