Orthodox justification of collective violence : an epistemological and systematic framework
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Date
Authors
Simion, Marian G.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
Using a religious studies methodology, this paper offers a detailed contextual mapping and a
structural configuration of how collective violence is justified in Orthodox Christianity. The
research design is explanatory, whereby the functional perspectives of doctrine, ethics and
worship are all investigated and probed as phenomena of lived religion and orthopraxy. While
predominantly initiatory and pedagogical, the paper also proposes a systematic platform for
advanced research on this subject, by flagging contexts, themes and areas of inquiry that a
researcher might examine in order to untangle the inner workings of the justification of
violence in the mind of the Orthodox. Given the ongoing Russian War on Ukraine, relevant
samples are drawn from this case.
CONTRIBUTION: This paper outlines the Orthodox Christian justification of violence from the
perspectives of doctrine, ethics and ritual and identifies pivotal areas of ambiguity between
orthodoxy and orthopraxy.
Description
DATA AVAILABITY STATEMENT: Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.
Keywords
Catechism, Doctrine, Ethics, Just war, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Orthodox Christianity, Russian War on Ukraine, Collective violence, Worship, SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-16:Peace,justice and strong institutions
Citation
Simion, M.G., 2024,
‘Orthodox justification of
collective violence: An
epistemological and
systematic framework’, HTS
Teologiese Studies/
Theological Studies 80(1),
a8513. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v80i1.8513.