Christianity and Western democracy

 Christianity in the West the role of democratic political development of
: Gu Su filing date :2009-7-3 11:05:00
Abstract: Western democratic political culture in the historical process of self-formation and development, which religions, especially Christianity has always played a unique role in the complex. as the official ideology of the Christian doctrine, on the whole not revolutionary, but this does not exclude it on the doctrine of equality and the rule of law has some positive role to play. It After the democratic revolution in the transformation and use of the future who will help encourage people to overthrow the tyranny of the feudal autocracy and defend people's right to freedom. In the modern process of advancing the cause of democracy, different factions of Christianity, including Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant role not the same. Western countries in the religious and political cultural differences, there are quite a democratic process and its relevance.
Keywords: Christianity; Western democracy; political development of Western democracy
is entirely in their own culture and historical process generated, that is, it is mainly not by imitation, copy the existing system and other social formation and development. In the past, the academic for the Western democracies of the internal mechanism of politics, mainly from the social and economic development, class and political forces and other aspects of the formation, and for the religious factor as an ideology, has been neglected. In fact, in the historical development process, especially the Christian religion has always played a unique role in the complex, which is discussed in this article theme.
a Christian doctrine and Christian Democratic Rule of Law
since being identified as the state religion of the Roman Empire has been oppressed and from the folk religion of poor people to become the official ideology. a considerable portion of its teachings is used to ruling order services, such as to people submissive, patience, obedience fate. These elements are basically conservative, and reject the democratic revolution, and thus become the main content of political theology in Western Europe. However, there are other Christian areas This is as it was originally when the lower people's religious content contains some positive, and thus also the modern liberal democracy are used to demonstrate the theory of the democratic revolution. These teachings include the concept of equality before God as a universal moral foundation of natural law, the concept of this world are brothers of the fraternity, and so on. Of course, the whole Christian doctrine is not revolutionary, just some of those teachings in a democratic revolution, transformation and use later, is conducive to encouraging people to overthrow the feudal despotic tyranny and defend freedom of the people. In the process of advancing the cause of democracy, Christianity, the role of different factions are not the same, European cultural and religious differences on the political culture and its democratic processes have considerable relevance. < br> 1.
Christianity and the Christian concept of freedom and equality and the concept of equality there is some history and relationship, this means that the concept of equality before God. spiritual equality. Moses told the Israelites, and God is spiritual, glory . As Christians in Galatia by the promise: Pacific Book 3:28)
course, the early Christian concept of equality is limited to church members believe in God and the fellowship on the interaction. in the relationship between men and women, mutual support, fellowship and worship, the church is each other equal, even slaves equal participation of church ceremonies such as baptism, communion and other events. However, equality is also limited to this, has not been extended to the outside of religious affairs, a common interpersonal criteria. the English Civil War ( 1642-1645) of the Parliament of the Puritans, in particular, is an independent religious believers are equal to expand this concept, they believe that remarks. revival. northeastern North America New England Puritans continue to develop this concept of equality .19 century French Tocqueville visited the United States, where people have lamented the equality were significantly higher than elsewhere. He writes: existence of equal conditions, than in any previous time in the world to any other place to be much more. Article IX provides that: sense of equality, especially equality upheld by Puritan view of the formation of the two parts of the Constitution played a certain role.
Western society now prevailing doctrine of the freedom and rights is largely the result of Christian influence, and its Classic describes (such as Saint Ambrose, Stephen. Renton, John. Locke, Montesquieu, Thomas. Jefferson and James. Madison, etc.) are out of human freedom the Christian concept of God-given absorb nutrients derived from the Christian fundamentalist concept of freedom and rights.
the basic concept of the rule of law, the Christian tradition has contributed to a number. For example, individuals above the law is the authoritarian regime characteristics, and for what is evil, not by the mouth of a person's testimony, they want to the mouth of two or three witnesses before they can be finalized The defendant arbitrarily imprisoned or executed; he must obey the law, not rash, highest in above the law.
at least two witnesses, which is Today, the rule of law in the UK and many other criminal and civil justice systems, have adopted common to Judaism and Christianity to be a witness in court testimony request. in the Anglo-American law, the witness is a law called due process the course of its development, due to restrictions from the moral and belief, the emperor and king, so they can not do whatever they want, which also formed to some extent, the emperor and the king is above the law of religious belief in the spiritual pressure. In the history of Christianity on the deeds of Bishop Ambrose, thought-provoking. AD 390, the number of people in the riot posted Thessalonians, Christian Emperor Theodosius the Great overreact, killing 7,000 people, most of them innocent. Bishop of Milan Ambrose asked the emperor to make confession of their killing behavior. Emperor refused, therefore, the bishop put the emperor out of the Church. After a month of suffering, the emperor finally creeping in Ambrose's church confession, so the faithful cried . the bishop's behavior certainly has power struggles between church and state factors, but more important is the first practice of any person, including the emperor and the king above the law nor the rule of law. the bishop to the emperor in The letter made clear that he only care about the emperor's fine - the interests of God, that the legitimacy of moral and faith. just like King David intended that Uriah died in the wars, the emperor also placing themselves in God above the law and committing murder. Therefore, Bishop Ambrose to the Emperor asked the name of God to make a sincere repentance. here is the divine law with human law above the principle of supremacy, and today is based on the rule of law the principle of supremacy of human law is different, but it has become bound monarch behavior many years ago, so not above the law, a classic case.
2.
Great Charter Great Charter of the United Kingdom is rule of law, a milestone in the history of mankind .1215, when the nobles forced King John to sign Magna Carta, they had never had access to a range of powers. Magna Carta provides that: (1) for those under the authority of the freemen in the nobility, no longer be sold, or deprived of justice; (2) no representative, no tax; (3) shall not be imprisoned without trial of people; (4) were not just compensation, can not take property from the hands of the owner. The great historic achievements, ending the era of the king above the law. ushered in the British Magna Carta of free and fair, then, it has guided the founders of the United States to establish a system of freedom and justice.
Magna Carta is a noble and enlightened civilians who fought through the struggle and achievements, but it is also inextricably linked with Christianity. introduction to the Great Charter says: For our soul and all our ancestors and descendants of the salvation of your souls, to the glory of God, the Holy Church of the upgrade and restructuring of our territory, our distinguished gentlemen under persuasion. . But this did not erase the influence of the Magna Carta of the Christian brand. Christian values affect the development of the Magna Carta, and, as a political document the Magna Carta, is a creed, which shows the makers as the Christian's charter We believe in what the king and his subjects should be the basic principle.
experienced Christianity in early modern religious reform, and reform of the religious freedom of thought in Western Europe had a decisive influence, one important theory is called natural law. a longer period of history from the point of view, the Christian development of the concept of natural law also made a considerable contribution. the concept of natural law has a long history, its origin can be traced back hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, Greek and Roman philosophers, the philosophers have in common is the natural law can be understood as the perception of human nature through rational and moral order of right and wrong, natural law, as they all human law, eternal, unchanging foundation. Christianity appeared in the stage of history after the Greek and Roman concept of natural law adds an important factor. Christian view of natural law is not a self-storage body, but rather created by God as part of the natural order, through it, God makes all rational people realize what is right and wrong. S?o Paulo pretty fair to express that view, he said: method. This is the show of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and they battle each other thoughts, or thought, or that non. This citation is the apostle Paul said that the natural law contains the Ten Commandments of God, although not to listen to, visible way to communicate, but it tells people what is natural and what is wrong. This emphasis is a natural law and universal applicability of universal validity, can be described as one size fits all. to follow Paul's many famous theologians have insisted on the natural law understanding of Paul, especially Luther believed that the Ten Commandments is a clearer expression of laws of nature.
medieval philosopher Thomas. Aquinas and the great British philosopher John Locke have modern natural law carried out for the classic exposition of the natural law of modern democratic revolution in the West an important theoretical weapon. to the 17th century, the concept of natural law applied to the natural rights of the people of government public affairs. Locke is systematically discussed the doctrine of natural law, and insisted the government exists only to support the laws of nature, and government tyranny is the natural violation of human rights. Natural rights are not bestowed by the King or the Government, and all the people born. Therefore, the ruler of legitimacy on the basis of the consent of the ruled. Locke is often regarded as a deist, but He never disguised himself as a Christian, and often refer to
3.
the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Constitution by politicians in the American Revolution the concept of natural law, natural rights for the American colonies as a defense, and the doctrine of natural rights. self-evident: that all men are created equal, they will receive from l, where r creator of some inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. to secure these rights, only in people the middle of the establishment of the government. the legitimate powers of the government have been obtained from the consent of the governed. If any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends of the government, people have the right to alter or to abolish it, to create a new government. ; here to emphasize that all men are created equal, get from the creator of the tremendous impact on Christian values. He drafted The so-called ; I am a real Christian like Jackson, as from the premise of Christian ethical and moral revolution, the conclusion is derived, and discarding the contents of its miracles of Christ. This is a major feature of Deists.
Similarly, the basic spirit of the United States Constitution also has its Christian roots. Montesquieu French Christians and historians is the godfather of the U.S. Constitution, the principal drafters of the Constitution, James. Madison by its ideology. on the three major U.S. government agency or division governance theory is discussed from Montesquieu's system, despite the decentralization of thought in Locke's effect. He believes that the spirit of Christian ideas is essential for a nation of freedom, those affected by Christianity in the promotion of civil liberties the government has its advance. He said, is often praised the quality of the Gospels, which is under the oppressive heat of the moment the Prince's punishment for his cruel behavior is not the servant reconcile. have benefited from the Christian; these benefits is human nature to never be enough to cognition. and executive power, to no freedom at all conclusion that the basic teachings of Christianity and the concept of nurturing the idea of separation of powers can provide an important basis for ideological and political culture. and learn from Montesquieu, Madison, a large number based on the ideas articulated vision of the United States Constitution , also shows that the root of Christianity. And Madison in his discussion also showed the direct impact of Christianity. a defense for the separation of powers, he responded to the Christian teachings about human nature fall, declared: The fact is that all the people in power are not enough to rely to some extent. ; these statements are clearly reflects the conviction of the Christian doctrine of human nature. precisely because of human weakness and evil nature, therefore, have the power of the people are not totally dependent, requiring a set of checks and balances between the three organs of government, each agency supervisory role of other agencies, so as to maintain the government's honesty and integrity. These ideas can be described as visionary. the world untold number of corrupt authoritarian government, even some manner established by the revolutionary government, lack of supervision and the basic balance of power, it quickly corruption continue. checks and balances between the powers essential to the experience from the secular studies can also conclude that, while the founders of the United States Constitution is part of Christian thought from the premise of this basic principle derived, and its constitutional system for the design of the system the United States. Over the next hundred years, America's political system is not without flaws and problems, but thought that the balance of powers, practices and systems operations, including by an independent Congress and the courts review of the constitutionality of administrative departments, has been among the rich and developed.
Second, the modern Christian culture and the Christian Democratic political development
established as the state religion of the Roman Empire, the most Catholic European countries, but In modern religious reform, the Protestant was gradually in some countries account for a dominant position, but still not the mainstream of European countries. The European continent's major countries still mainly Catholic, of course, in Russia and some Eastern European countries are mainly Orthodox . to the development of modern democracy, the European Orthodox countries to establish democracy are relatively late time, some in between the two world wars, or even later. The European Catholic countries, the development of democratic politics is relatively slow, but added a Protestant countries (such as the UK and Switzerland, as well as an extension of the form of Protestant culture in North America) is early in the establishment of democratic institutions. This is a simple relationship, but the actual situation is quite complex. Germany Luther who first raised the banner of righteousness Reformation, Lutherans in Germany, although not dominant, but also in the powerful Protestant denominations, while Germany's democratic system is long overdue, until after the end of World War II, as a defeat State of Germany (West) was forced under the external forces, the establishment of a relatively normal democratic constitutional state.
Therefore, the scholars of the Catholic and Protestant influence democratic political development in the different roles, as well as within the Catholic For the different factions and influence the attitude of democratic politics. In the 19th century, the Catholic Church for the general system of liberal democracy hostile. This is not surprising, because the Catholic Church's long-term roots in the feudal monarchy of the old order, And take care of the feudal system fairly the interests of the Catholic Church. the Church does not welcome any change, this is particularly true in Italy, Italian nationalists want to build a unified country, which means that on top of the Papal States deprivation highest in style and Clean Pope's authority. Moreover, the Christian doctrine for democracy despite the use of the content, but its basic teachings still not conducive to the democratic revolution. such as the doctrine of original sin on human nature, is conducive to the conservative right wing ideology, not conducive to the ideology of radical reformers. In addition, the image of the Catholic Church itself is built on such a general assumption that the truth is by divine inspiration from the elite to maintain.
19 century did not stand more than the Pope support participatory democracy. Pope Gregor XVI in the encyclical in 1832, strongly opposed the parliamentary elections, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state. He cited the Pope in the sacred sources, as a knitting rule their reason for most parts of Italy. Since then, the Vatican announced the bishop would be the absolute reliability of the Pope, it was the Protestants as Christians outside the Catholic Church a direct challenge to the legality. reformists believe that the Catholic Church idea is actually denied a free and democratic thought and political essence. 40 years from the 19th century revolution in Western Europe can be seen against the liberal Catholic is usually related to expansion of universal suffrage, the establishment of national public school system and as a strong national identity requirements and other advances. However, the Catholic Church did not completely ignore the public thought the help of the tide to maintain its institutional integrity. Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical marks a change in attitude. Although the statement Socialism is still condemned, but accepted the countries play an important role in human affairs point of view. stabilized as Western Europe, and increasing democratization, by the elite few competing interests surrounding the operation of the old political system was the public replaced by the competition of political parties, some voters also were mobilized.
Catholic Church in this period and establish a public image in which the theme is called corporatism, which is right in the liberal left and class solidarity beyond the third position. the Catholic Church preached that such an ideal of an orderly society in which people through some of the guild has a specific function and together. the Catholic Church is not free competition advocated by the personal economy anarchy, but there is a structure of a statute, which consists of workers, managers and employers to form a society composed of, they arrived at through negotiations, the interests of all parties to respect the reasonable and fair result. However, Comprehension of this cooperation is quite flexible, given the different interest groups rather different interpretation. and in practice, it is conducive to those who have the authority of powerful people, who call this doctrine as a co-management of lower The new public channel.
this position with the Catholic Church to adapt some Catholic countries, a large number of communities there, and the clergy in the foreground activities. When the political elite are minority rule, the Catholic Church's interests are usually be represented by its aristocracy. And in the era of mass mobilization, the clergy in social movements and electoral politics have become very active. clerics in France, Belgium and Germany led a number of political parties. Of course, the Catholic Church itself does not completely in favor of the clergy is so involved in politics, the danger is that the Catholic political parties and social organizations to show those discordant tendencies strong independent leader expelled. Of course, as John White (JohnWhyte) pointed out, the Catholic After the First World War the political role became less prominent, mainly because of the 19th century more than 80 years of conflict stirred up so those issues have been resolved in some way. Italian firm to realize the national reunification, has no need to then the Pope who ruled for a small country back to the embrace of the church. State aid for the Catholic Church no longer has aroused strong emotions, in France, such aid has been withdrawn, while in Italy and Belgium, aid remains are no longer a problem . on the establishment of public school problems are mostly solved. However, the main result in the marginalization of the Catholic political party is a political right wing advocates of a new emergence. Catholic doctrine as a barrier against communism was fascism by role subversion. Fascism split the Catholic camp. fascist worship of powerful nations and contrary to Catholic doctrine, and the offended a lot of Catholic people, and that the social organization of the fascist attempt to replace the Catholic organization. On the other hand, fascism the Collaborative and is a response to Catholic doctrine, and the appeal of fascism in many emotional things (nationalism, unity, on the order of desire to find scapegoats) for the other person has as attractive as against Catholics. < br> People often think that the Catholic Church's authoritarian environment provides a rich soil, and the Protestants are more inclined to a democratic system. in the political development of the 20th century, which is often able to intuitively set up, of course, the specific situation is more complex. dictatorial regimes in Europe and Latin America, many of the military dictatorship, can provide some support for this assertion. In many European countries before the outbreak of war ended and World War II, succumbed to some form of authoritarian government. < br> In Nazi Germany, Catholics and Protestants on the attitude of Hitler's Nazi regime is quite complex. Germany before the Nazis came to power has been for some time the practice of representative democracy, Catholics have organized their own political parties and organizations, the Nazi Party on the stage that is competitive with these groups. Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans initially more reluctant than the pro-Nazi. but more out of existing right-wing Catholic organization loyalty, not ideology, not on recognition. In many states the Protestant-dominated, Catholic initially opposed Hitler, however, led the Bavarian Catholics, the Catholic parties have announced the collaboration with the Nazis. Some of the Catholic media to support the efforts of Nazi Germany to revitalize the Catholic Church to protect their own interests and international action to support Hitler, including the occupation of Austria, while many ordinary Catholics and the lower clergy were brave enough to oppose Nazism, which was the Nazi repression.
Nazis between the two world wars days appear and wreak havoc. it through a war of aggression and political influence, many European countries to liberal democracy from the authoritarian system, drag it back, opened the reverse of democracy. lead to the retrogression of history for many reasons, and religion in which The role should also be summarized. fascist movement is rooted in a deep economic and social crisis, economic recession led to a large number of unemployed persons and social disorder prompted a strong desire for order and government, Germany and Italy, fascism can be said to be shipped born. Of course, the United States to 30 years in the late 20th century also occurred in the Great Depression, but did not lead to fascist political parties and political power, but within the framework of constitutional democracy appears the New Deal, which Europe stands in stark contrast. This is among the political and cultural traditions and ideological causes of the differences can not be ignored. the Catholic intellectual tradition and some of the attitude of the church indeed play a role, although this role is not to have led to the decisive cause of fascism. At that time in Europe extreme right-wing regimes in some countries to replace the left-wing regime, which even in Germany and Italy, before the strong military occupation of these countries, which shows a number of mechanisms on behalf of the old order played an important role in one of these mechanisms is that the Catholic Church . Moreover, in most cases, the leaders of the Catholic Church the use of social instability, not only to promote their religious inspiration triggered by the Collaborative on good social position, but also to promote their secular interests. For example, the Church of Portugal leaders strongly oppose the liberalism, authoritarian tendencies. the Church, while not willing to accept in a free democracy, the need to operate under the system, but people are still opposed to the fundamental principle of the right to freedom of choice. Thus, the conservative Catholic organizations, and Christian doctrine conducive to free some of the content of equality and democracy, not the same thing, which once again shows that the Christian faith in the political and the complexity of consciousness.
in Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal, the Catholic system as a mostly negative but important role. fascists with some obvious characteristics of anti-Christian, such as worship leaders, virtual nationalism, national worship and violence against the scapegoat. However, they also tried to use Christianity as the moral authority of the normative force to in order to convince a large number of devout Christians, including some senior faculty members to support their cause, or even participate in the actual operation of their oppression, violence, genocide and war. Of course, the Christian values does not directly support the Nazi ideology, the link between Catholicism and authoritarianism is more the result of structural, that is, the mechanism of the formation of the force. Lutheran Church in Germany, the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic States have also tended to show authoritarian, from initial system of freedom and democracy back. After the end of World War II in Russia and Eastern Europe of the socialist camp, the main religion in these countries is based on the Orthodox Church, such a system is also related to individualism opposed. Thus, from Catholic to Orthodox, to Lutheran Church (the extent of the weak in three), the authoritarian mechanism has considerable support. they keep the supremacy of the church organization mechanism, it is possible to state as a community as ; of political expression, rather than the expression of personal preferences are. On the contrary, the Protestant tradition are more inclined to reform camp is divided into competing factions and constraints, and to encourage individualism, to reduce the authority of the subject. Thus, in these individualistic relatively strong values and behavior of countries, generally will not let fascism and authoritarianism prevail. It can also be interpreted as the Great Depression and facing the crisis, why is created in Germany and fascist Italy, while in the United States is a constitutional New Deal under a democratic system, although the intensity of state intervention in the economy increased, but did not have totalitarian or authoritarian government, constitutional democracy, the system is not compromised. I said before, the reformed Protestant Christianity has been the belief that individuals doctrine of, by encouraging their followers to understand beliefs tend to be more rational, not easy to form for a leader, groups, political parties, the extreme worship and dependence, which is dependent on production of fascism and authoritarianism of religious and cultural soil. From the post-war European political development could draw the preliminary conclusion: as an important branch of the Christian Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran churches in the ethos and values than on the Protestant Reformers of cooperation for the totalitarian doctrine more appropriate position to provide the structural basis.
to the basic ethos, the Catholic and Orthodox faith more difficult for opponents of tolerance, which is linked with the authoritarian one of the reasons more closely. these religions think they are the only true faith, the faith and therefore did not give provide any space alien . the Catholic Church insist that only you can hear the voice of God, it is with political conservative forces maintain close contact, which means that the forces opposed to the vested religious people to be expelled from the sect, and became completely anti-religious elements. so come to prevail in such a religious country, it is easy to create a extreme left-wing political forces, because they are the mainstream of religious tolerance is not to produce the molecular polar opposites. On the contrary, in the more tolerant of religion (such as the reformist Protestant), the political opposition is not easy to take the extreme opposite position, so turn the ruling party of its position in the political differences are not large, it will not sharply divided, severely tearing the community. So we see that Western Europe remain the most conservative and traditional Catholic country m. ..