Prophetic Dimension of Conscientious Objection

Abstract

The possibility of conscientious objection for different professions, particularly doctors and pharmacists, is a very topical issue both with reference to law and ethics. The author of this  article suggests that the reflection should be enriched with a biblical perspective, which enables connecting the concept of conscience with the teaching of prophets and thus brings out the prophetic dimension of conscientious objection. Therefore he outlines the biblical aspect of conscience and the broad phenomenon of prophetism and depicts the prophet as the nation's conscience. The author presents biblical examples of conscientious objection in the Old Testament and in the light of the words and deeds of Jesus as a Prophet. He enumerates the characteristic features of the objection and its significance for contemporary people.