Christian Humanism on the Individual and Human Dignity

This chapter examines two necessary elements of any humanism: the human person as individual, and the irreducible dignity of each person. It does so from the vantage point of Christian humanism, focusing on three authors from different eras: Julian of Norwich (1342–ca. 1416), Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834), and Pope Francis (1936–). Their respective accounts of selfhood and human dignity have much to contribute during a time of hyper-individualism marked by violence. In particular, these three humanists, however different their explanations might be from one another, all give insight into how to check and repair the dislocation and distortion of the ideas of the individual and dignity.