Christian Attitude Towards Democratic Society Cover Image

Kršćanski pristup demokratskom društvu
Christian Attitude Towards Democratic Society

Author(s): Drago Šimundža
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Government/Political systems, Politics and religion, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Fakultet političkih znanosti u Zagrebu
Keywords: Christianity; democracy; democratic society; human rights;

Summary/Abstract: The author analyses the crux of the Christian social creed and its relevance for the issue of the organization: of a modern society. Christian tenets are universal and thus above party politics. The starting point of the Christian vision of society are the precepts of natural order and natural right, the cornerstones of the demand for the inviolability of individuals. Human rights imply an ethic consideration: an interdiction of exploitation and hypocrisy and the recognition of the equality of people. Unlike an individual, a society is a fortuity having no substantial reality: it is but a set of relationships among individuals. A society is nevertheless recognized as autonomous and pluralistic. It develops its own dynamics and contradictions which call for studied efforts to maintain social balance. That is why the mediation of state in a society is requisite. The state is defined by the contemporary Christian canon (in line with Thomas Aquinas) as an institution fundamental in establishing a consummate human community. The scope of a state’s activities is restricted: state intervention must take into consideration individual and collective rights and be in the service of achieving common good.

  • Issue Year: XXXI/1994
  • Issue No: 04
  • Page Range: 4-16
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Croatian