Journal of Humanistic and Social Studies (May 2017)
God in Public: A Prolegomena to Public Theology in the Romanian Context
Abstract
This paper intends to begin a conversation on public theology in the Romanian context. The launching of the Global Network for Public Theology and of the International Journal of Public Theology some 10 years represent two significant markers for this new field of study. Public theology is a serious engagement of Christian faith with the public domain in all its social, political, cultural and economic spheres of life in society. It is proposed that the engagement of theology in conversation with issues of public domain becomes not only relevant but extremely urgent if we consider the historical, postcommunist, post-dictatorial, transitional context of Romania and the entire region of Central and Eastern Europe, where faith was privatized and excluded from the public discourse for many decades. It is argued that in this context one of the most important and urgent tasks of the church as well as of Christian theology is to become an authentic witness in the public realm, toproclaim and embody the gospel as public truth, i.e. a theology concerned with and addressing the entire reality of life in society.It is thus shown that a crucial preoccupation for Christians in Romania and in this part of the world isan articulation of a solid public theology of culture, of work, of social justice and reconciliation, a public theology for the common good and human flourishing.After a brief presentation of a particular aspect of the Romanian regarding religion and public life, the paper offers an introduction to this new field of study by looking at some definitions, characteristics, approaches and tasks of public theology.
