Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)
1968-06-01 / 2. szám
« 25 -HOP Vol XX St>ecia 1 Number 1963 No 2 (07637) The individualistic view according to -which Christian theolqgy has nothing to say about the State has been repudiated0 Christian teaching about the State is a specifically theological taslc» The discussion about the State can only take plaoe in. terms of the existing confessional theologies* and hence every Christian doctrine of the State has its specific theological characteristics» Christian teaching regards the State as an carder cf life instituted by God» Depending on the theological background, the State is considered to be in the realm of creation* or of providence* ci' of redemption» As a result of the rapid progress of secularisation.; the state -theories with religious* metaphysical background art# retreat:!ngB It is a progressively spreading conviction, among the Christian churches that there is no independent Christian theory of the State « a theory that would be a. rival to the secular theoriess One may only speak of a specifically Christian contribution when we consider the Christian teaching, about the State0 With the progress of secularisation* the State is progressively asserting its claim upon the whole realm of society0 The growing cent ralisat ion of State authoritydoes not obstruct and is* in many cases* even the condition of, social pregressc The various theological conceptions concerning the State have* as their backgrounds* various anthropological tisch ingsa The solutions offered differ according to the various views concerning man* the purpose of maria life* his destiny« "Without clarifying this question* one cannot fruitfully consider the relations between Church and Stateu All the political theories ere ultimately determined by the views one may have of nature* the possibilities* origin and destiny of man0 A1.1 the systems effusing piólosophies of the State with which the Church has to reckon have their implicit answers to the /question; what is man?" 34) Beyond these basic considerations* the details of the-Christian, teachings about the State are determined by the confessional position of the theologians concerned» Some believe that it is wholly impossible to give a homogeneous Christian answer to the question of the State« Indeed* the ecumenical discussion which is in progress is very far from reaching a consensus.,-This divergence caxinot be accounted for by the differences of political opinions» Anglo-Saxon theology* far instance* does not go into the depths of the problem of the State; it regards the State on a natural and necessity political instrument to defend and promote earthly peace and the welfare cf society; the theological arguments advanced attach a positive significance to the State0 Because of its pessimistic estimate of inon* Continental theology speaks of the State in negative termso This negative attitude has only been accentuated by the recent interests taken in the theology of the Reformat lore 35) The 1966 world conference in Geneva on Church and Society clearly reflected the above divergence« But* as woubaLieye it was^one cf the failures of the conference that, neither in the studies preparatory to the conference., ncr xn the course of the proceedings, was any attempt made to sum up and eval
