Social theology: challenges of the era of globalization

Abstract

In this essay social theology is analyzed as a phenomenon of modern religious thought. Social theology is actualized in the Global Age due to the crisis of the policy of state atheism and secularism, as well as the growth (prosperity) of religiosity in the globalizing world. Social theology combines transcendental meanings with human factor. It presents social evidence for the existence of God and the reconciliation of faith with social and political reality. It defines theological meanings of social and political reality. Social theology has its own language and terminology. Its main category is «social sinfulness» (individual and collective, public (nationwide, state) sins). Yet social theology is also a type of global history. Within the framework of social theology, such larger-scale subjects of world history as civilizations, states and nations live (just like ordinary person) in accordance with religious rules,spiritual norms and moral principles. In the language of social theology revolution, nationalism, religious extremism, political ideologies, xenophobia are perceived as public sins, followed by punishment in the form of natural and environmental disasters, state and societal collapses. Social theology is a new cognitive model for  global history studies. The author lays particular emphasis upon the connection between modern social theology (learned profession) and the Ukrainian religious tradition, from Christian intellectuals of the 16th century, H.Skovoroda, Ukrainian romantics to the works of P.Yurkevych and V.Lypynskyi.