MIROSLAV VOLF'S CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND CONSCIENCE AS A PROPOSAL FOR RESOLVING THE ISSUE OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN RELATION TO THE CHRISTIAN CLAIM TO THE EXCLUSIVITY OF TRUTH
Abstract
Today, if not ever, the issue of freedom of conscience and religion is a matter of crucial importance. This is demonstrated by the escalated amount of religious disputes, conflicts and religiously motivated violence.
An important question is asked from not only the Christian, but the generally religious perspective: how does the concept of religious freedom relate to the truth of faith? In Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf we find a concept that goes against the cheap relativisation of truth and the difference of religions even against the simple secularization concept that removes religion from the public space. Instead, it offers an alternative that respects the religious and, above all, Christian claim to the exclusivity of its own grasp of the truth, which, however, surprisingly does not rule out the possibility of peaceful plural cohabitation.
It is based on basic biblical and theological principles, the principles of reformation theology and the specific approaches of the theologians of past generations. Volf's concept of freedom of conscience and religion is presented in the concretization of his fundamental principles in questions of faith, truth and its exclusivity, respect and freedom, whilst focusing on the resolution of the ancient dispute of whether it is appropriate to use violence in situations where the truth and the word of God are not respected.