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Public Opinion Works of the Church in the Constutional Orde of Secular State: Based on the Interpretation of Luther’s Summon on Law

  • The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
  • Abbr : 기사윤
  • 2018, (40), pp.11-47
  • DOI : 10.21050/CSE.2018.40.01
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
  • Received : February 28, 2018
  • Accepted : April 6, 2018

Kang, Won Don 1

1한신대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

How should the church participate in the public sphere and express her opinions publicly in the constitutional order of secular state? This article attempts to answer to this complicated question as following. First, this study analyzes the process in which the secular state has replaced the Christian state based on the hegemonic alliance of church and state. Second, this research investigates how the public sphere operates in the constitutional order of the secular state under the principle of neutrality to world-views. Third, in order to present plausible reasons why the Church should express her opinions publicly regarding political and social problems, this article analyzes Martin Luther’s concept on the role of the church as watchman for the state and the world, and also his model of summon on laws which he used as public discourse in the framework of two government doctrine. Lastly, the public opinion work of the Protestant Church in Germany (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland = EKD) is analyzed to grasp that situation analyses and theological-ethical arguments in EKD's public opinion work are not connected in a sufficiently persuasive art. In regard to church’s public opinion work in the constitutional order of the secular state, this research suggests that the church should be equipped with discourse ability to secure legitimacy of her public opinions through open and critical argumentation.

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