Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical Context
Religion and spirituality are seen to be making a comeback since the 1990s and increasingly thereafter in the European context. However, traditional forms of Christianity are diminishing, while other types of religion take the lead. An increasing number of voices are being raised among Christians, c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/179 |
| _version_ | 1797618443764105216 |
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| author | Evi Voulgaraki-Pissina |
| author_facet | Evi Voulgaraki-Pissina |
| author_sort | Evi Voulgaraki-Pissina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Religion and spirituality are seen to be making a comeback since the 1990s and increasingly thereafter in the European context. However, traditional forms of Christianity are diminishing, while other types of religion take the lead. An increasing number of voices are being raised among Christians, calling for a re-evangelization of society. Nevertheless, there is some skepticism about such activism against the backdrop of plurality, human rights, and freedom, regarding not only issues of political correctness but also considering the question of efficacy. While spirituality abounds, even among conscientious Orthodox Christians, there is still a need for theology. Even among Orthodox Christians, spirituality is mainly linked with a withdrawal from the world, history, and the political, often taking a ritualistic character expressed in religious acts of pietism through habits and customs. This is unfair to the historical and liberating physiognomy of the Orthodox Christian faith, as it does not differ much from other types of new age religious movements. In order to foster Christian witness amidst the desert of post-modern cities, one must rediscover theology. Theology, centered around the Gospel and the patristic tradition, can contribute vital missing elements and does justice to the Incarnation of pre-eternal Logos, to the Resurrection, and to the fulfillment of life. Unless Christians grow in their understanding of theology and the world around us, there will be only mirages of spirituality that take the place of a spirituality derived from faith and its incisiveness and meaningfulness for life today. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:13:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85b5e352bac44d6c8484070290f8fb45 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:13:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-85b5e352bac44d6c8484070290f8fb452023-11-16T22:59:12ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-01-0114217910.3390/rel14020179Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical ContextEvi Voulgaraki-Pissina0Department of Social Theology and the Study of Religion, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, GreeceReligion and spirituality are seen to be making a comeback since the 1990s and increasingly thereafter in the European context. However, traditional forms of Christianity are diminishing, while other types of religion take the lead. An increasing number of voices are being raised among Christians, calling for a re-evangelization of society. Nevertheless, there is some skepticism about such activism against the backdrop of plurality, human rights, and freedom, regarding not only issues of political correctness but also considering the question of efficacy. While spirituality abounds, even among conscientious Orthodox Christians, there is still a need for theology. Even among Orthodox Christians, spirituality is mainly linked with a withdrawal from the world, history, and the political, often taking a ritualistic character expressed in religious acts of pietism through habits and customs. This is unfair to the historical and liberating physiognomy of the Orthodox Christian faith, as it does not differ much from other types of new age religious movements. In order to foster Christian witness amidst the desert of post-modern cities, one must rediscover theology. Theology, centered around the Gospel and the patristic tradition, can contribute vital missing elements and does justice to the Incarnation of pre-eternal Logos, to the Resurrection, and to the fulfillment of life. Unless Christians grow in their understanding of theology and the world around us, there will be only mirages of spirituality that take the place of a spirituality derived from faith and its incisiveness and meaningfulness for life today.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/179Orthodox theologyOrthodox missiologypost-secularspiritualityreligion |
| spellingShingle | Evi Voulgaraki-Pissina Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical Context Religions Orthodox theology Orthodox missiology post-secular spirituality religion |
| title | Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical Context |
| title_full | Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical Context |
| title_fullStr | Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical Context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical Context |
| title_short | Theology, Witness, and Spirituality in a Post-Secularized Historical Context |
| title_sort | theology witness and spirituality in a post secularized historical context |
| topic | Orthodox theology Orthodox missiology post-secular spirituality religion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/179 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evivoulgarakipissina theologywitnessandspiritualityinapostsecularizedhistoricalcontext |