Christlich-sozialethische Anmerkungen zur Neugestaltung Europas
16 years after the dissolution of both the communist regimes and the (East-West) division of Europe, with concerns to religious aspects, church vitality has appeared to be both increasing and in some cases, drastically decreasing. The fundamental reasons for these differences and the future signific...
| Published in: | Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
2007
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| In: |
Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
Non-electronic |
| Summary: | 16 years after the dissolution of both the communist regimes and the (East-West) division of Europe, with concerns to religious aspects, church vitality has appeared to be both increasing and in some cases, drastically decreasing. The fundamental reasons for these differences and the future significance of belief and church must lie in the success of the inculturation of Christian inspiration in the lives of today. Our society is fundamentally determined by the natural sciences, technology and an economy highly influenced by the latter two. Are non-human powers and mechanisms thereby dominant? What is the present and future state of the connection between highly instrumental, dynamic efficiency on the one hand, and human goals and values, meaning and responsibility on the other? After an overview of historical directions taken, the challenges in building a new Europe which upholds human dignity in the context of globalisation and the crisis of progressive, modern belief are evaluated. What are the specific qualities and co-ordinates in forging European life and society? For future sustainability, Europe will be in need of competitive, scientific, technological and economic know-how. But at the same time, orientational and epistemological knowledge of an equivalent level will be necessary. "Efficiency" without human goals, values and structures would be pointless, meaningless and, hence, irresponsible. During the current transformations, Christians have in many cases proven themselves on personal levels and in assistance to the needy. But power and competence was lost in the course of societal formation. The well intended reiteration of principles, formulas, appeals and denunciations (as correct as they may be), finds only marginal resonance. Highly developed societies and economies networked over large geographic areas are complex entities. They are not easy to understand and even more difficult to influence constructively. Herein lie the demanding challenges to Christian social ethics and a vital pastoral. It gives hope, when Christians work ecumenically in tackling these tasks. |
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| ISSN: | 2196-808X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.13109/kize.2007.20.1.22 |