Original scientific paper
Christians and politics
Branimir Lukšić
; Faculty of Economics, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Abstract
Politics is here defined as an activity and an area of human life that concerns power and its exercise. Through power by itself is morally neutral, it often serves as a means of enslaving other people and as such is a moral challenge for Christianity. Christianity does not give precedence to a certain political philosophy nor does it prescribe a certain form of government. However, the Christian understanding of love is a source from which many principles that serve as Christians' guidelines in politics spring: restraint, patience, readiness to compromise, recognition of one's mistakes, not yielding to hate. Christianity equally opposes anational cosmopolitanism and xenophobic nationalism and is in favour of patriotism and altruism as the complementary virtues. And finally, the author deals with the harrowing political heritage and stresses the importance of a catharsis which should facilitate the transition to a democratic society and politics.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
110480
URI
Publication date:
1.12.1994.
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