文章基本信息

标题：Christian Perspective on Politics
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作者：J. Philip Wogaman
期刊名称：Journal of Religion and Society
电子版ISSN：1522-5658
出版年度：2001
卷号：3
出版社：Creighton University
摘要：[1]Wogaman's thesis is that Christians should be engaged in the body politic. Beginning from the notion that the state is "society acting as a whole" (15), he contends that Christians can not avoid political involvement if for no other reason than they are part of society. Therefore they are necessarily a part of whatever society does (or does not do). However, Wogaman is not satisfied with mere acquiescence to state power. He argues for active involvement on the part of Christians, one informed by their faith.[2]After laying out the book's thesis in part one, Wogaman turns, in part two, to a consideration of the most useful set of principles for guiding Christian political activity. Analyzing alternatives offered by several distinct Christian perspectives, he concludes those related to "mainstream Christian" thinking best serve this purpose. While there are elements of truth in each of the perspectives, the core problem of most is that they permit too great a division between the community of faith and the broader society within which it is imbedded. "Mainstream Christianity" alone permits an integration of the two, owing to its more inclusive notion of covenant. Since God's grace extends to all, not just the Christian community, God is active in all of society. Recognizing this, Christians must be as well