Original scientific paper
Political dualism and the Council's Christianity
Željko Mardešić
Abstract
The author attempts to present the contemporary state of the Church and Christianity in the Croatian society in the last ten years taking into consideration the consequences of the fali of communism and the difficulties of countries in transition. The Independence War in Croatia has gradually degraded the social situation, and old historical remembrances were reawakened thus making the political scene more turbulent. On the other hand, the impatient Western politicians have insisted too much on the modernisation of the Croatian society overlooking the fact that democracy cannot be introduced overnight, that its complex mechanisms and institutions cannot function successfully if built in a hurry. In such critical social circumstances, Christians found themselves in great temptations in terms of political antagonisms and the Council's appeasement efforts. Thus, in the Croatian society, two schools of thought and action have been formed: "political Catholics" and "the Council's Christians". The author examines the historical background of these two tendencies. Their origins are old: the first tendency is pervaded with ali sorts of dualism and the second tendency is rooted in the early Christianism. Presented in this context are integrism and Catholic fundamentalism as two typical patterns of dualism. They are, of course, completely opposed to the spirit and letter of the Second Vatican Council. Still, the central question of today's Christianity in the world and in Croatia is its relationship to modernity, a dilemma which was resolved at the Second Vatican Council in a peaceful and dialogical way, in line with the Old and New Testament tradition.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
85108
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2003.
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