Diakonia - Evangélikus Szemle, 1988
1988 / 1. szám - Summary
95 DIAKONIA Lutheran Review Summary The first item in the current issue, Walter Liithi’s sermon on the resurrection of Christ based on John 20:1—18 is recommended for meditation. From among the great contemporary preachers, after P. Tillich, the journal is now starting a W. Liithi series for the Hungarian readers. University professor Rudolf Andorka examines on the basis of the latest sociological surveys the differences in religious interests in the Hungarian society by sex, age, domicile, and education level. He detects signs of revival among the highly educated urban young people who represent the most cultured and the most active group in their generation. By joining the church in increasing numbers they create new conditions and new tasks for the religious communities. The young intellectual group keenly interested in matters of faith may play a part in gradually replacing the declining traditional model by a new model both in the church and in the congregations. Pastor Károly Hafenscher commemorates the 25th anniversary of the death of Pope John XXIII. whose life-work did not come to an end with his death but continued in Vatican II. and today still continues to influence individuals, his church, and interdenominational relations alike. For the sake of proclaiming the gospel he made the implementation of modern Christianity his programme. The statement he made on his investiture as patriarch of Venice prior to being elected pope may be considered his papal guideline: seek what unifies rather than that which divides or creates differences. Professor Hans Heinrich Schmid of Zurich writes about the inexplicable suffering. In viewing the problem from the point of religious history he traces the story of suffering through the Old Testament and concludes that God set righteousness and salvation as the goal for this world. Those are on the side of God who are not distressed by the repellent phenomena in the world but Publication of the Lutheran Church in Hungary Responsible editor: Dr. Gyula Nagy Editor: Imre Veöreös Editorial and Publishing Office: H—1088 Budapest, Puskin u. 12. Subscriptions to above address. Published every six months. Annual subscription: 130,— Forints. persevere on their course trusting God’s purpose. (To this point the New Testament adds new accents.) At Easter the Christian congregation experienced that by accepting suffering and death Jesus was justified by God himself. Jesus is not merely an ideal, he is the basis of our faith in God’s righteousness. Thus instead of being temptations injustice and suffering must become challenges to lessen or, if necessary, to personally endure injustice and suffering in the world. Tibor Schulek, aged church historian and hymnologist highlights in his article the interesting changes wich have taken place in the Anglican liturgy. Through the quickly popularized Alternative Service Book the mode of prayer has become freer, family communion has become more central. In the communion service the traditionally sombre character of repentance has been replaced by a happier tone. The aspect of fellowship, of joyful thanksgiving has increased. The congregations take more active part in the liturgy. Several similar phenomena can be observed in the Lutheran Church in Hungary. Pál Gadó, prominent physicist now over the age of 50, is devoting as general secretary all his energy to the National Association of the Physically Disabled. Personally also physically disabled in chidhood he wishes to devote the rest of his life to the cause of the disabled. After providing in his essay staggering figures, important internationally accepted positions, and reviewing the local situation he addresses one by one the tasks which face the church in identity formation, in promoting the full integration of the disabled in any respect. The recently started cooperation between the various denominations and the Association of the Physically Disabled holds a promise of hope. Besides the papers reviewed above a Table Contents is also included in English and German.
