Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

A

HOP 7al X£ fecial Number - 7'/ - (07781)

1968 No 2

ing for a social order that is to liquidate alienation and exploitation* In this view, the Christianas pre-conceived notiop. of a communist is "demythologized" and "de—demonized", and this gives us a certain release in order to werk in alliance to accomplish certain specific ends of social life« We find the Marxist counterpart of this view in a recently published writing cf József Lukáos: "The main frontline today is not between religion and the followers of the materialistic dialectic tut, above all, between the supporters of socialism, with their various ideologies, and the opponents cf socialism in and outside the churches*"71)

e) Socialism and Plurality in Thinking

In this way, the plurality of thinking is recognized within the alliance of those giving their support to socialism* The same author writes in another, already quoted, article of hiss "Mary cf the religious people,their great majority nay join and actually join in the active political support of socialism although they have not adopted the ideology of Marxist socialism*

We all know that in our circumstances religious people not only cooperate in a practical way with their ncn-bclieving companions in economy and public life but they also adopt many political and ethical norms which are socialist in character"« 72) People may have various reasons to affirm the socialist system, To ignore this, waild he a serious mistake and disservice both to Marxr ism and Christianity. Christians gladly agree with the communist R» Garaudy: "To Christians who honestly strive for the realization of real democracy and socialism, the communists can say the same as to all their allies: we need you just as you are and not as our own reflected image"*73)

Dealing with the theme of pluralism, we are to clarify the question as to the possibility of cooperation on the basis of different ideologies. We mean cooperation in the course of which neither of the cooperating partners gives up himself but rather gives the best of what he is, that is, both partners taking part, without compromising their principles, in the effort to bring about conditions worthy of man, In this matter we fully agree with the outstanding Hungarian Marxist philosopher who summed up the essence of Marx* humanism in this: "Not the man is the better humanist who sheds more tears for humanity but the man who dees more fer the continuous development of mankind", 74)

In view of the present stage of the Christian-Marxist dialogue, the above remarks are to give expression to what we have most recently experienced of this'matter in our circles*

7) 7/hat Con We Do for the Family in Our Society? ..

We shall discuss throe problems of family life: that of divorce, of birth control and the problem concerning the conflict between the generations. These problems appear in new forms in our society and hence call for new answers and mean new tasks for our churches.