Introduction

There is a lot of ambivalence in the relationship between religion and human rights. In the struggle for global human rights, religions have been and continue to be both an obstacle and a driving factor. The present volume, addressed to policymakers, academics, and practitioners worldwide, seeks to elucidate this ambivalence through the perspective of four case studies from Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which point out not only problems but also potentials of the respective religion with regard to the idea of human rights. The introduction chapter presents the underlying concepts of religion and human rights as well as an overview of the case studies.