Orthodox Perspectives on Politics & Society
by Christos Yannaras
Excerpt: “The term political theology has, today in the West, a precise meaning: it signifies a group or a school of theologians who seek to explain the evangelical preaching of the salvation of humanity in categories offered by contemporary political theories, particularly those of the Marxist and neo-Marxist left. This quest of political theology ranges from pure scientific research for a political interpretation of the texts of the Bible to the direct and active mobilization of theologians and clergy in radical socio-political movements. Behind each of the phases of this quest one can discern…”
by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Excerpt: “Any of our contemporaries readily identifies two world powers, each of them already capable of destroying each other. However, the understanding of the split too often is limited to this political conception: the illusion according to which danger may be abolished through successful diplomatic negotiations or by achieving a balance of armed forces. The truth is that the split is both more profound and more alienating, that the rifts are more numerous than one can see at first glance. These deep manifold splits bear the danger of equally manifold disaster for all of us… “
by Albert J. Raboteau
Excerpt: “African-American Christianity has continuously confronted the nation with troubling questions about American exceptionalism. Perhaps the most troubling was this: “If Christ came as the Suffering Servant, who resembled Him more, the master or the slave?” Suffering-slave Christianity stood as a prophetic condemnation of America’s obsession with power, status, and possessions. African-American Christians perceived in American exceptionalism a dangerous tendency to turn the nation into an idol and Christianity into a clan religion.”
by Valerie Karras
Excerpt: “The United States has no formal state religion, so we do not face the threat that ended [Saint] Paul’s life of being considered treasonous simply because of our beliefs. On the other hand, does our Orthodox Christian conscience push us to act and speak out in ways that are viewed negatively by the American public? Is it possible to be a good citizen and yet be considered unpatriotic? Conversely, does good citizenship mean compromising our Orthodox Christian ethics?”
by Fr. Thomas Hopko
Excerpt: Some of us Christians don’t necessarily want our political leaders to be “observant Christians.” We know ourselves and our histories too well for that. We also don’t want our countries to consider themselves “Christian nations.” We also know what that can mean. So what do we want in our political and civil leaders? Because politics is the “art of the possible,” we want leaders who can practice the political art without selling their souls to the devil. We want people who can achieve maximal results for the common good, as they understand the common good…