The Church Policy of the SED Regime in East Germany, 1949–89: The Fateful Dilemma

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN A. MOSES
Keyword(s):  
East Germany ◽  
Church Policy ◽  
The Church

scholarly journals Dialogue as a Strategy of Struggle: Religious Politics in East Germany, 1957–1968

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-186
Author(s):  
Heléna Tóth
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
East Germany ◽  
Religious Politics ◽  
Policy Strategy ◽  
Argumentative Strategies ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Church Policy ◽  
The Church

AbstractThis article argues that the topos of dialogue between Christians and Marxists fulfilled a key role in the creation and maintenance of power relations in religious politics in East Germany. Three case studies illustrate the topos of dialogue as a strategy of struggle: 1. the campaign against ‘revisionism’ and ‘politicised religion’; 2. the church policy strategy of ‘differentiation’; 3. the critique of the phenomena commonly associated with the Christian–Marxist dialogue outside East Germany in the mid-1960s. These instances of socialist religious politics, while having their own dynamics, were closely related through specific actors and argumentative strategies.

East Germany

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detlef Pollack ◽  
Gergely Rosta
Keyword(s):  
Structural Transformation ◽  
East Germany ◽  
External Factors ◽  
The Political ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
State Security ◽  
Security Service ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Church

The case of East Germany raises the question of why religion and church, which had fallen to an unprecedentedly low level after four decades of suppression, have not recovered since 1989. The repressive church politics of the SED were undoubtedly the decisive factor in the unique process of minoritizing churches in the GDR. However, other external factors such as increasing prosperity, socio-structural transformation, and the expansion of the leisure and entertainment sector played an important role, too. In addition, church activity itself probably also helped to weaken the social position of churches. The absence of a church renaissance after 1990 can be explained by several factors, such as the long-term effects of the break with tradition caused by the GDR system, the political and moral discrediting of the church by the state security service, and people’s dwindling confidence in the church, which was suddenly seen as a non-representative Western institution.

scholarly journals Die Kirche von Zypern im sogenannten monenergetisch-monotheletischen Streit des 7. Jh.s

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 933-980
Author(s):  
Heinz Ohme
Keyword(s):  
Church Policy ◽  
The Church

AbstractThis essay examines the main sources on the attitude of the Church of Cyprus in the so-called monoenergetic-monotheletic dispute. It is shown that the Church of Cyprus was a loyal and active partner in Constantinople’s policy of reconciliation with the Antichalcedonian churches of the East. Cyprus was also, especially under Archbishop Arkadios (624/25-641/2), a place of exile for opponents of this reconciliation, and in 636 also the venue of an important synod which was attended by legates of almost the whole church. The resulting Ekthesis was approved also in Rome and Jerusalem. Even Maximos did not succeed, after 636, to influence the position of Arkadios through the Cypriot priest monk Marinos. His six letters to Marinos offer no evidence for a dyenergetic or dyotheletic position of the Church of Cyprus. A letter from 643, written by the successor of Arkadios, Sergios (642-655), clearly shows that there was until then no protest against the Constantinopolitan church policy in Cyprus in this time. This letter, which demonstrates the firm dyenergetic and dyotheletic position of the whole Church of Cyprus, was presented at the Lateran Synod of 649, but forged or completely rewritten for this Synod. Even after 643, there is no evidence for public dissent in the Church of Cyprus, nor should it actually be expected.

Politische Kultur und Rechtsbewußtsein in Ostdeutschland-Folgen der Diktatur

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-187
Author(s):  
Ehrhart Neubert
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
East Germany ◽  
The State ◽  
State Law ◽  
Constitutional State ◽  
Politische Kultur ◽  
State Grants ◽  
Law And Justice ◽  
The Church

Abstract The author examines the consequences of dictatorship upon the conciousness of law and justice in the postsocialist society of East-Germany. This society and even the Church are characterized by a moralizing thinking of justice- according to the German tradition of paternalistic state: the state grants justice and represents community. Ever after theseGermans regard themselves as inferiors, who want to get adjusted into a disciplined order. This leeds to disappointments and radical criticism of the democratic constitutional state. Law is not able to realize ultimatejustice. For the aceptance ofthe constitutional state it will be necessary to restore civil society and overcome a fundamentalistic criticism of civilisation.

The Luther Anniversary in East Germany

1984 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F. Goeckel
Keyword(s):  
East Germany ◽  
Martin Luther ◽  
West Germany ◽  
The Other ◽  
Intermediate Range ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
International Attention ◽  
State Cooperation ◽  
The Church

In 1983 two events focused international attention on East and West Germany. One was the collapse of talks on intermediate range missiles in Geneva and the consequent deployment of the missiles by NATO. The other was the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther. The Luther anniversary cast the spotlight particularly on communist East Germany, which revised its previously negative interpretation of Luther and not only marked his birth with elaborate festivities but also extended unprecedented assistance to the Lutheran church for its celebration. Yet, just as many wondered if inter-German detente would survive the I.N.F. deployment, so, too, many wondered at the nature of the church-state cooperation in the G.D.R., and if it would survive the Luther Year. The present analysis examines the character and direction of this churchstate relationship, using the Luther Year experience as evidence.

scholarly journals Ecclesiastical Household of Anna Yaroslavna, Queen of the Franks (1051–1075)

2020 ◽  
pp. 6-19
Author(s):  
Vladimir Shishkin
Keyword(s):  
Social History ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
The State ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Historical Literature ◽  
High Level ◽  
Church Policy ◽  
Queen Mother ◽  
The Church

Introduction. The court of Anna Yaroslavna, the French queen of the 11th century, has not been specifically studied in historical literature. The author proposes to find out how the ecclesiastical environment of the Queen was formalized and structured in 1051–1075, who of the church persons formed her inner circle, and whether the royal ecclesiastical household had an influence on the formation of the church policy of the crown. Methods. The methodology is a combination of institutional and social history as part of the systemic approach that makes it possible to understand the evolution of the Queen’s household within the curial Capetian system. Analysis. The reviewed sources indicate that Anna Yaroslavnas staying in France and her relationships with the curial clerics were very close. The Royal acts attest to Anna’s high level of involvement in the ecclesiastical affairs of France, her regular support for the church persons of Curia regis, the Chancellor-Bishop and his servants, as well as the state of curial priests. Results. The ecclesiastical entourage of King Henri I and Queen Anna largely shaped the policy of the Capetians and strengthened dynastic authority. As a widow and queen mother, Anna Yaroslavna played in accordance with the policies of Henry I and his predecessors, contributing to the further strengthening of the church presence at the court, and in particular the bishops in Curia regis, as opposed to the feudal clans and influence of the pope. At the same time, all her actions were aimed at the interests of the crown in order to guarantee the safe preservation of the throne for her son Philip I.

Worship and Liturgy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Hill QC
Keyword(s):  
Church Of England ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Holy Communion ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Church Policy ◽  
The Church

This chapter focuses on worship and liturgy in the Church of England. It first considers the form of liturgy used by the Church of England before discussing the performance of regular services in the Church. It then examines Church practice with regard to baptism, confirmation, confession, and holy communion including reservation of the sacrament. It also explains the Church policy with respect to holy matrimony, with particular emphasis on marriage by banns and by licence, superintendent registrar's certificates as a means of authorising a wedding, solemnisation of marriage, marriages in chapels, further marriage of divorced persons, and same-sex marriage. The chapter concludes by analysing how the Church conducts burials and funerals and looking at other church services such as daily offices, visitation of the sick, and exorcism.

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