Nachdenkliche Rückblenden auf das Verhältnis von Kirche und Staat in der DDR
Any analysis or critique of the policies of the Evangelical churches in the G.D.R. must presume a comprehensive knowledge of the social and political conditions of the time, and their consequences in the orientations and strategies of the main actors within these institutions. It is equally relevant...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
1994
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| In: |
Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
Year: 1994, Volume: 7, Issue: 2, Pages: 300-318 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Any analysis or critique of the policies of the Evangelical churches in the G.D.R. must presume a comprehensive knowledge of the social and political conditions of the time, and their consequences in the orientations and strategies of the main actors within these institutions. It is equally relevant to consider how Christians lived their day-to day lives at the local level, as well as the different types of responses Christians adopted in living out their faith. In summary we can see that, after the establishment of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in the G.D.R. a new style of church politics was adopted. In place of the former confrontational relationship, the leaders now sought a more conciliatory policy designed to avoid or a least to limit such conflicts, in order to not to endanger the church's mission unnecessarily. The churches were now concerned to rebut the accusation that they were opposed in principle to the doctrines of Socialism, as well as to gain and maintain greater freedom of action. The lack of any definite rules or legislation affecting church-state relations meant that the churches had continually to enter into delicate negotiations, which were marked on the churches' side by a diplomatic strategy designed to resolve conflict. Any criticism of the slogan "Church within Socialism" should not ignore the fact that this policy could be interpreted as seeking reforms and revisions in the G.D.R. (see, for example, the writings of Heino Falcke). We should also have to consider more carefully how far this attitude led to a subtle and self-imposed resolve to see only the positive sides of the G.D.R. life, which led to a form of "Anti-anti-Communism" in both west and east, and resulted in a naive underestimation of the real situation in Communist-dominated countries. |
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| ISSN: | 2196-808X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
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