The 29th Methodological Seminar "Historical and Contemporary Approaches to War and Peace in Christianity"

The Eastern European Institute of Theology launches a new series of methodological seminars on "Theological and Ethical Challenges of Wartime." The war in Ukraine, the genocide of the Ukrainian people, and the military threats modern humanity faces drive the choice of the theme. Since the church's inception, Christians have experienced constant tensions due to their dual identity as both the followers of Christ and the citizens of states entering into military conflicts. Efforts to reconcile these identities and bring together unsettling biblical images of war and Christ's teaching on non-resistance to evil have provoked lengthy and fierce theological debates. Their relevance is growing significantly today as the Old world is threatened by a new redistribution of borders and spheres of influence for the first time since the Cold War. Current and potential military conflicts confront every Christian with the need to define their place and role in the new circumstances and urge them to find ways to resolve conflicts, build peace, and prevent violence. This general topic will include the following seminars: "Historical and Contemporary Approaches to War and Peace in Christianity" (November 4, 2022), "Security, Violence and Vulnerability in a Biblical Perspective" (December 16, 2022), "The Language of the Bible, War and Peace" (January 27, 2023), "Biblical Theology of Reconciliation and Restorative Justice. The Potential of the Christian Community in Building Peace in a Divided World" (March 17, 2023).