Discussions on post-modernism in today's Ukrainian Christian theology

Abstract

The paper looks into the state of Christian confessional theology in the territory of Ukraine in the post-modernism context, explores specific aspects of the positioning of Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Protestant directions in relations with society and state, identifies the intentional content of emancipation concepts proposed by Protestant theologians for society and church, particularly A. Denysenko's concept underpinned by the logic of Latin American liberation theology and the concept of political liberties, which was developed in Ukraine by M. Cherenkov and F. Raichynets. It is established that despite discrepancies in interpretation of such phenomenon as the sociopolitical all votaries of these concepts assess the creative potential of civil solidarity with excess optimism. The orthodox tradition regards post-modernism as a fundamental threat to the existence of church as a 'living tradition'. Most often, Orthodox theologians just overlook new opportunities for development of Christianity, which are offered by the post-modernist state of society itself. The author proves his thesis by citing the conservative ideological criticism of post-modernism by Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych), the Chief Executive Officer of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate. Greek Catholic theologians develop both modernism and traditionalism in the tideway of ideas of such direction of modern theology as radical orthodoxy, considering that Christian values of human dignity, justice and solidarity can serve as foundation for the renewed Ukrainian society. It is generally shown that Ukrainian theology is experiencing a gradual transition to accepting the post-modernist state as given and is looking for reasonably conservative and modernizing projects for development of both churches and Ukrainian society as a whole.