RELIGION AND THEOLOGY

Christian Theology

Welfare at the Intersection between Theology and Politics: A Global Perspective

Introduction

In the contemporary era, religion has impacted upon the political activities in many parts of the world. There is a belief that individuals secularize as they modernize. The welfare societies are not in crisis, but it is certain that some changes are taking place. The on-going modernism calls for changing the social value systems in countries (Yates, 2007, p.4). Welfare is considered to be a marking point between theology and politics as they are providing functions of religious organizations, which are depicting their theological and political considerations.

Many evidences show that churches are being used as a mean of welfare provision directing and moving onwards into the secular sphere and possess a tendency to be pulled towards welfare sphere directly or indirectly (Yates, 2007, p.4). This perspective will be studied in the context of cases in Europe, the United States and South Africa.

The truth is that religion's primary role in the context of welfare was brought differently across the globe. There are many factors which are directly related and responsible for this change. These factors include religious voices and activities, and the development of state welfare regimes. In order to examine this topic, it is essential to explore the role of religion in welfare, and an individual's life (Yates, 2007, p.4).

Analysis

Role of religion in public sphere

The radical changes in the public sphere are modern and democratic societies have arisen the question of public theology. The disappearance of religion has been seen in the society because of the rationalization in societies. Many scholars have presented their ideas over the religion in sphere theology. There are two basic principles in religion and political context, the tolerance of religious pluralism and the separation of churches. They are defining the limit to which religious beliefs must extent on the inclusion of justifications of laws and policies (Koopman, 2007, p.294). The findings of various scholars and researchers are parallel and belief that religions are possessor of considerable, and potentially fruitful, ethical arrangements. But the question is that can religion be served as the ground for a constitutional state and the extent to which space must be made for religion sphere for public.

Religious differences can foster doctrinal and ethical absolutisms that create no space for disagreement, debate, and the acknowledgment of uncertainty and vagueness. In the framework of totalitarianism, muralist, stereotyping, generality, and demonization, ultimately provides addition to undeviating violence such as murder and bloodshed develop on individual and public, local and global scales (Ias & Gherghina, 2012, p.336). These factors leads to the inspection of scrupulous introspection by religious citizens and institutions, an introspection that is evident in, as far as feasible and suitable, reasonable consideration, academic investigation, and public explanation of the plausibility of doctrinal and moral arrangements. For this critical undertaking, public theology is essential.

In the modern world, religion has been considered as a source of conflict and violence, but also is the reason for non-violence, unselfishness and ...