From Vajta (H) I travelled on to Osijek (Croatia) to attend a very interesting international consultation marking the twentieth anniversary of the collapse of Marxist-based totalitarian systems, which ruled for decades over the eastern part of Europe, titled: "Challenges for Church and Society in
Post-communist Contexts. Celebrating and Assessing Twenty Years of
Freedom”. It was good to reconnect with colleagues and friends from Croatia, Romania, Serbia.
"People everywhere long for and celebrate freedom. The dramatic tearing down of the Berlin Wall, the most powerful symbol
of the division of Europe, signified the end of atheistic one-party
regimes that kept under their grips hundreds of millions, caused
indescribable suffering and countless victims. In addition to abuse of
political power, economic devastation and ecological disaster, this
oppressive ideology violated human rights, destroyed creativity,
personal initiative and social responsibility, and created
hopelessness and spiritual emptiness.
Twenty years after the demise of communist systems in Europe, people
in Eastern Europe and beyond need to come to terms with the lasting
effects of this failed social experiment, to assess the painful
transition from totalitarianism and centralised economies towards
open, democratic and just societies and to discover where hope resides
for the future. Christians are called to join hands with people in all
cultures and communities to work for the wellbeing of all citizens and
shape a better world for generations to come.
The consultation took place 29-31 October 2009 at Evandeoski
Teoloski Fakultet in Osijek, Croatia."
(For further information and interaction see www.evtos.hr and
http://20yearsoffreedom.wordpress.com
