Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 2019
Reviewer: Paul Mojzes, professor emeritus, Rosemont College Research on the mutual impact of Chri... more Reviewer: Paul Mojzes, professor emeritus, Rosemont College Research on the mutual impact of Christian churches and the Cold War is proceeding albeit slowly. One of the most important initiators of such research, the prominent church leader Risto Lehtonen of Finland, has now added his own study based on his personal experience in executive positions with the World Student Christian Federation and then more pertinently as Director of the Department of Church Cooperation of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). With occasional direct references to his own role in the historical development of the churches' role in the post-World War II rupture of the world into two hostile camps, the author has based his research, analysis, and evaluation on a wealth of primary sources such as proceedings of the Assemblies of the LWF, reports and archival material of unpublished sources, oral reports, and many secondary sources. Thus, the work has the authenticity of an eyewitness to many of the developments described in the book supported by archival material and published sources. 1 Norman Hjelm, an associate of Lehtonen's at the LWF, has provided a foreword, placing this study and its author into a clear context. The book also contains three appendices, one providing a chronology of events in the political world with a parallel in the Lutheran world. The other is the bibliography and the third is an index of names.
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 2012
in the last half of the twentieth century. The next chapter, "History of the Baptist-initsiativni... more in the last half of the twentieth century. The next chapter, "History of the Baptist-initsiativnik movement," sketches the fifty-year history of the separatist, Reform Baptist movement. Chapter eight, "Soviet Baptism after World War 11," looks at factors impacting the church structure among Evangelical Christian-Baptists in the USSR during the post war period. Next, "The Evangelical Movement in Russia and Political Parties," summarizes the involvement of Russian believers in Soviet politics. Chapter ten, "Women as Pillars of Revival," reminds us not to forget the role of women in European Protestantism. Chapter eleven begins the mission section. "Elements of Post-Gulag Mennonite Theology," depicts Mennonite theology as a product of a faith community. Next, "The Current Crisis in Protestant Theological Education in the Former Soviet Union," describes the problems encountered by Protestant schools-declining enrollments and limited finances. Chapter thirteen, "From Mennonite to Anabaptist," takes us out of Eastern Europe and looks at such developments in England. Next, as the title notes, "Patterns of Church-State Relations in Eastern Europe…" examines the various church-state patterns that have developed in post Soviet Europe. Chapter fifteen, "Doing Theology in Community," details how theology is done. The next chapter-"Remembering the Russian Bible Commentary-describes how the Barclay commentary has been received in Russia. Chapter seventeen, "Correct Losers-but the Wrong Winners," looks at the church in East Germany after reunion. Next, "The Russian Christ," views Christ through the lens of Russian literature and philosophy. "Mission in Cities" urges Anabaptists not to neglect mission in European cities. Chapter twenty, "Promoting Peace Through Unity in Diversity" relates peace and community to Mennonite identity. Lastly, "Religious Experience as a Way of Doing Theology," examines the role of religious experience in Russian theology. Any book with twenty-one chapters and authors has its strengths and weaknesses. Most chapters are well documented and fit the general pattern of history and mission in Eastern Europe. But several chapters are a stretch. They only marginally connect with the themes of the book. Having said this, History and Mission in Europe informs us of developments largely related to the free-church tradition in Eastern Europe and is worth a careful reading.
Page 1. Page 2. Page 3. The Study of Religion in an Age of Global Dialogue One 6EB7-Y8U-EBJX Page... more Page 1. Page 2. Page 3. The Study of Religion in an Age of Global Dialogue One 6EB7-Y8U-EBJX Page 4. Page 5. The Study of Religion Age of Global Dialogue in an LEONARD SWIDLER AND PAUL MOJZES TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESS Philadelphia Page 6. ...
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 2022
While it is obvious that Russia's motives for the unprovoked brutal war against Ukraine are compl... more While it is obvious that Russia's motives for the unprovoked brutal war against Ukraine are complex, what is not quickly apparent is the incendiary intermingling of a collective delusion of persecution and the delusion of grandeur of an individual. Delusion of Persecution After the disintegration of the U.S.S.R. the Russian Federation remains the geographically largest country in the world. Ethnic Russians were both during Imperial Russia as well as the Bolshevik Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the core of this vast country, so much so that in common parlance most people simply referred to it as Russia and the people as Russians, whatever their ethnicity. The Russian language was dominant and at times the required means of communication. In all parts of that enormous Eurasian landmass, ethnic Russians were both a significant and influential presence.
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 2019
Reviewer: Paul Mojzes, professor emeritus, Rosemont College Research on the mutual impact of Chri... more Reviewer: Paul Mojzes, professor emeritus, Rosemont College Research on the mutual impact of Christian churches and the Cold War is proceeding albeit slowly. One of the most important initiators of such research, the prominent church leader Risto Lehtonen of Finland, has now added his own study based on his personal experience in executive positions with the World Student Christian Federation and then more pertinently as Director of the Department of Church Cooperation of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). With occasional direct references to his own role in the historical development of the churches' role in the post-World War II rupture of the world into two hostile camps, the author has based his research, analysis, and evaluation on a wealth of primary sources such as proceedings of the Assemblies of the LWF, reports and archival material of unpublished sources, oral reports, and many secondary sources. Thus, the work has the authenticity of an eyewitness to many of the developments described in the book supported by archival material and published sources. 1 Norman Hjelm, an associate of Lehtonen's at the LWF, has provided a foreword, placing this study and its author into a clear context. The book also contains three appendices, one providing a chronology of events in the political world with a parallel in the Lutheran world. The other is the bibliography and the third is an index of names.
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 2012
in the last half of the twentieth century. The next chapter, "History of the Baptist-initsiativni... more in the last half of the twentieth century. The next chapter, "History of the Baptist-initsiativnik movement," sketches the fifty-year history of the separatist, Reform Baptist movement. Chapter eight, "Soviet Baptism after World War 11," looks at factors impacting the church structure among Evangelical Christian-Baptists in the USSR during the post war period. Next, "The Evangelical Movement in Russia and Political Parties," summarizes the involvement of Russian believers in Soviet politics. Chapter ten, "Women as Pillars of Revival," reminds us not to forget the role of women in European Protestantism. Chapter eleven begins the mission section. "Elements of Post-Gulag Mennonite Theology," depicts Mennonite theology as a product of a faith community. Next, "The Current Crisis in Protestant Theological Education in the Former Soviet Union," describes the problems encountered by Protestant schools-declining enrollments and limited finances. Chapter thirteen, "From Mennonite to Anabaptist," takes us out of Eastern Europe and looks at such developments in England. Next, as the title notes, "Patterns of Church-State Relations in Eastern Europe…" examines the various church-state patterns that have developed in post Soviet Europe. Chapter fifteen, "Doing Theology in Community," details how theology is done. The next chapter-"Remembering the Russian Bible Commentary-describes how the Barclay commentary has been received in Russia. Chapter seventeen, "Correct Losers-but the Wrong Winners," looks at the church in East Germany after reunion. Next, "The Russian Christ," views Christ through the lens of Russian literature and philosophy. "Mission in Cities" urges Anabaptists not to neglect mission in European cities. Chapter twenty, "Promoting Peace Through Unity in Diversity" relates peace and community to Mennonite identity. Lastly, "Religious Experience as a Way of Doing Theology," examines the role of religious experience in Russian theology. Any book with twenty-one chapters and authors has its strengths and weaknesses. Most chapters are well documented and fit the general pattern of history and mission in Eastern Europe. But several chapters are a stretch. They only marginally connect with the themes of the book. Having said this, History and Mission in Europe informs us of developments largely related to the free-church tradition in Eastern Europe and is worth a careful reading.
Page 1. Page 2. Page 3. The Study of Religion in an Age of Global Dialogue One 6EB7-Y8U-EBJX Page... more Page 1. Page 2. Page 3. The Study of Religion in an Age of Global Dialogue One 6EB7-Y8U-EBJX Page 4. Page 5. The Study of Religion Age of Global Dialogue in an LEONARD SWIDLER AND PAUL MOJZES TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESS Philadelphia Page 6. ...
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 2022
While it is obvious that Russia's motives for the unprovoked brutal war against Ukraine are compl... more While it is obvious that Russia's motives for the unprovoked brutal war against Ukraine are complex, what is not quickly apparent is the incendiary intermingling of a collective delusion of persecution and the delusion of grandeur of an individual. Delusion of Persecution After the disintegration of the U.S.S.R. the Russian Federation remains the geographically largest country in the world. Ethnic Russians were both during Imperial Russia as well as the Bolshevik Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the core of this vast country, so much so that in common parlance most people simply referred to it as Russia and the people as Russians, whatever their ethnicity. The Russian language was dominant and at times the required means of communication. In all parts of that enormous Eurasian landmass, ethnic Russians were both a significant and influential presence.
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