Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31192/np.15.2.6
Liberalism and the Catholic Church – Željko Mardešić’s dialogic vision
Marko Medved
orcid.org/0000-0002-2221-9121
Nataša Varga Padovan
orcid.org/0000-0002-2221-9121
Abstract
Among the Catholics in Croatia, Željko Mardešić was one of the most outspoken advocates of the convergence of Christianity and liberalism, that is, of dialogue between people of faith and the modern world based on the principles of the conciliar teachings. Competently familiar with religious trends in both Croatia and the rest of the world, he was never a mere academic intellectual, but an authentic Christian. His scholarly and religious engagement was strongly influenced by the Second Vatican Council. Whereas the 19th century was dominated by opposition between the two world views, the scientific and the religious one, as well as treatment of social order, Željko Mardešić argued that a dialogue between Christianity and modernity was now necessary and feasible on the basis of the Second Vatican Council. Pointing to the Christian principles of modernity, rejecting political Catholicism and validating democracy and secularisation, Mardešić drew an unbroken line between the first Christianity and modernity.
Keywords
Željko Mardešić; liberalism; Catholicism; integrism; Second Vatican Council; secularisation
Hrčak ID:
184981
URI
Publication date:
20.7.2017.
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