Diakonia - Evangélikus Szemle, 1992
1992 / 4. szám - Summary, Aus dem Inhalt
79 DIAKONIA Lutheran Review Summary The main theme in this issue is the minority problem. The subject is approached from many aspects. Some authors address the minority issue and its challenges in general, while others analyse a specific minority situation. With the authenticity of personal experience, gerontologist-writer Alaine Polcz recollects the crippling, yet fortifying memories of the Transylvanian fate. With criticism and selfcriticism he seeks for a course between the reflexes of constant defense and unconditional assimilation. His conclusions are universally valid. Namely, the commands for ’conformity without self-surrender’ and ’accepting and having accepted’ save both from majority arrogance and from minority withdrawal. In the address given at the opening of the European Protestant Hungarian Free University, Anna Jókai, president of the Hungarian Writers’ Association, welcomes the Hungarian intellectuals from Western Europe on the occasion of their first session in Hungary. This excellent initiative was started officially 23 years ago, though in effect it dates back to much earlier when after World War II. and then after 1956 a continuous stream of ’dissidents’ left Hungary to preserve their Hungarian identity in a minority role in the western societies. While lifting up their voices for us and on our behalf, they enriched all of Europe and all mankind. Today, when Hungary is becoming ever more like a huge Hyde Park, the intellectual values need protecting in a wise and cultured manner. Physicist Dr. Jenő Sólyom, a secular superintendent in the Lutheran Church, writes about the Lutheran minority role. Christianity is a minority worldwide, Lutherans the more so. After reviewing the Lutheran World Federation’s statistical report and analysing Publication of the Lutheran Church in Hungary Editor: D. Imre Veöreös Assistant Editor: László Bízik Editorial and Publishing Office: H—1447 Budapest P. O. B. 500 Subscriptions to the above address. Annual Subscription: 560.— Fts. the inaccuracies of the Hungarian church statistics, he concludes that despite an increasing trend in church functions, church memberships have dropped dramatically. In Hungary only half of the ’statistically probable’ Lutherans (cca. 250 thousand) are in active contact with the church who carry the burdens. The drop in numbers is offset only by the members who confess their Lutheran faith consciously and positively. In Hungary gipsies traditionally settle on the outskirts of the Hungarian villages. What happens if all the native Hungarian population leaves a small village and their houses are bought up by gipsy families? What good or what bad comes from setting up a characteristic gipsy ghetto which will gradually lose all contact with the outside society? Sociologist Dr. Iván Szelényi (UCLA) introduces the gipsy micro-society at the small village of Csenyéte. This situation is a noteworthy lesson for the broader society. For the past four years the journal has been running a serial under the title ’The Wealth of Colour in the New Testament’. Despite a number of diversities in the New Testament scriptures, they are unified in the good news of the incarnate, crucified, risen and glorified Jesus Christ, the centre of the New Testament. In looking for the characteristic testimony of each author, editor D. Imre Veöreös discovered the incredible wealth of the N. T. This issue brings the last instalment in the serial dealing with the Book of Revelation. In the author’s view, the New Testament is the most ecumenical work. Besides the papers reviewed above, also a full Table of Contents is included in the English and German languages.
