Petőcz Kálmán (szerk.): National Populism and Slovak - Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006-2009 (Somorja, 2009)
Miroslav Kocúr: For God and Nation: Christian National Populism
Miroslav Kocúr CONCLUSION National populism offers relatively simple and mobilizing solutions without making any demands of its supporters, particularly in the time of complicated societal processes; however, national populism has its value profile as well as the actual price that must eventually be paid by its upholders, victims of their manipulation and the entire society, including Christians who fail to reject this pragmatic attitude that flies in the face of Christian values while it is still in its embryonic stage. At later stages, it evolves into a destructive social force that is difficult to manage and is even likely to receive support from a democratic system. To paraphrase Burke, it is enough if decent people don’t do anything when they see the seeds of evil and injustice around them. References (bEsidES died quotations): Dunn, James D. G.: Unity and Diversity in the New Testament, (London: 1977). Gellner, Ernest: Nations and Nationalism, (Ithaca, 1983). Hobsbawm, Eric James: Nations and Nationalism since 1780 - Programme, Myth, Reality, (Cambridge: 1993). Penna, Romano: “L’évolution de l’attitude de Paul envers les Juifs” [Evolution of Paul’s Attitude with Respect to the Jews] in Vanhoye, Albert (cd.): L'Apôtre Paul: Personnalité, style et conception du ministère Paul the Apostle: Personality, Style and Concept of the Ministry Service] (Leuven: 1986, pp. 390-421). Pontificia Commissione Biblica, L 'interpretazione della Bibbia nella Chiesa [Interpretation of the Bible in by the Church], (Cittŕ del Vaticano: 1993). Pontificia Commissio Biblica, Le peuple juif et ses Saintes Ecritures dans la Bible chrétienne [The Jewish People and their Saint Scriptures in the Christian Bible], (Cittŕ del Vaticano: 2001). Ratzinger, Josef: Das neue Volk Gottes [The New People of God], (Düsseldorf: 1969). Ratzinger, Josef: Die Einheit der Nationen - eine Vision der Kirchenväter [Unity of Nations: A Vision of Church Fathers], (Salzburg: 1971). Renan, Ernest: “What is a Nation” in Eley, G. - Suny, R.G. (eds.): Becoming National, (Oxford - New York, 1996, pp. 42-55). Notes 1 In the context of Slovakia, 1 hereby refer primarily to Christian communities; based on my background, I shall be methodologically limited to my personal experience with Catholic, Protestant and Evangelistic Christianity. 2 Good examples in this respect include the status of women within churches, the position on homosexual relations, the right to hold clerical posts, etc. 3 During his meeting with representatives of churches in Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico referred to state and church as the father and the mother, respectively, of his children - Slovak citizens. Source: Sme daily, January 25, 2008. 242
