Towards a Theology of Dignity and Freedom: Existentialism and the Prospects for Reform of Protestant Witness to Post-Soviet Society

Abstract

This article examines how existentialist approaches to theology can be applied towards the elucidation of the meaning of dignity and freedom in post-Soviet society. The first part identifies key relevant characteristics of existentialism. The next section explores the relevance of existentialism for the context of post-Soviet Eastern European society through a critical examination of the concepts of dignity and freedom from an existentialist perspective, drawing primarily on the insights of Nikolai Berdyaev. Finally, the article addresses the contribution that Protestant theology could make towards the critique and renewal of post-Soviet society through a creative application of key concepts and ideas associated with existentialism.