Christian Social Ethics and Social-Ethical Thinking in Hungary

Abstract

Catholic Social Ethics is the discipline within theology, which is probably the most sensitive to the local setting. Today Christian social ethics (CSE) in Hungary is characterized by a certain ambiguity: it is the only theological discipline that is able to enter into dialogue with other academic disciplines, but it is also in need of further “professionalization”. Theological-ethical reflection on social questions has a long tradition in Hungary. CSE has made reasonable progress in the years after the fall of communism in Hungary establishing itself as a discipline recognized both within and beyond the realm of theology. However, CSE in Hungary still needs to develop in three areas: to find its distinctive place among academic disciplines; to integrate the unique characteristics of Hungarian society into its theories; and to make itself more transparent and accessible to decision-makers.