Pomen politične teologije pri teologu Jožetu Rajhmanu

slovenian

2025

volume 96 = n. v. 61, issue 1/2

Catholic integralism   enlightenment principles of liberty   equality and fraternity   political religion   political theology   secularization

Zgodovinsko društvo v Mariboru
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Slovenian Protestant theology of the sixteenth century, especially Primož Trubar. As a Catholic theologian, he was the first in Slovenia to evaluate Protestant theology affirmatively. In the paper I highlight how, in analyzing Moltmann’s thesis on the political dimen- sion of every theology, he emphasized the difference between engaged theology, which stresses the Christian ethos, and the subjugation of theology to political religion imposed by totalitarian regimes. In comparing the moral passivity of German Protestantism in the face of Nazi violence, he pointed to a similar attitude of Slovenian Catholic integral- ism. At the same time, he stressed that precisely in the conditions of a socialist secular society theology was obliged to uphold Christian moral principles despite the pressures of state structures. He drew a clear distinction between politically engaged theology and political religion, which serves to consolidate the totalitarian state. In this context, he developed an engaged theology of the social state and in doing so followed Moltmann’s position that Marxist criticism of religion is not a substantive critique of Christianity, but a critique of the political practice and the unsocial conduct of Christian Churches. Particularly for Slovenian circumstances, he observed that after the collapse of the com- munist regime the politicization of the Catholic Church, which strives for integrist as- sertion in society and thus for total reCatholicization, has negative consequences for the preservation of authoritarian social models in Slovenia. In this way it only contributes to the negative attitude of the majority society towards Christian moral values. The Catholic Church must, in accordance with the teaching of the Gospel, serve the human being in the given society. The Church cannot be an end in itself; rather, its aim is always the good of every human being regardless of their conviction. This anthropological orientation is the fundamental characteristic of Rajhman’s theology, to which he remained faithful until the end, despite opposition from the Church hierarchy.

16.03.2026