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Democracy, society and truth: an exploration of Catholic social teaching

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bretherton, L
Published in: Scottish Journal of Theology
August 2016

This article maintains that modern Catholic social teaching took shape by positioning itself between revolutionary ideologies that sought to destroy the church and reactionary forces that sought to instrumentalise it. Among the factors that contributed to this development were the emergence of a theologyical and socio-political conception of the laity, reflection on the question of how humans participate in Christ's rule, the development of a consociational vision of sovereignty in distinction from top-down or monistic views, the importance of labour to a proper understanding of human dignity, and the discovery of ‘society’, as distinct from the market and the state. Appreciation of these factors resulted in the magisterial defence of democratic politics as a necessary condition for telling the truth about what it means to be human.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Scottish Journal of Theology

DOI

EISSN

1475-3065

ISSN

0036-9306

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

69

Issue

3

Start / End Page

267 / 280

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Related Subject Headings

  • Religions & Theology
  • 2204 Religion and Religious Studies
 

Citation

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MLA
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Bretherton, L. (2016). Democracy, society and truth: an exploration of Catholic social teaching. Scottish Journal of Theology, 69(3), 267–280. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0036930616000284
Bretherton, Luke. “Democracy, society and truth: an exploration of Catholic social teaching.” Scottish Journal of Theology 69, no. 3 (August 2016): 267–80. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0036930616000284.
Bretherton L. Democracy, society and truth: an exploration of Catholic social teaching. Scottish Journal of Theology. 2016 Aug;69(3):267–80.
Bretherton, Luke. “Democracy, society and truth: an exploration of Catholic social teaching.” Scottish Journal of Theology, vol. 69, no. 3, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Aug. 2016, pp. 267–80. Crossref, doi:10.1017/s0036930616000284.
Bretherton L. Democracy, society and truth: an exploration of Catholic social teaching. Scottish Journal of Theology. Cambridge University Press (CUP); 2016 Aug;69(3):267–280.
Journal cover image

Published In

Scottish Journal of Theology

DOI

EISSN

1475-3065

ISSN

0036-9306

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

69

Issue

3

Start / End Page

267 / 280

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Related Subject Headings

  • Religions & Theology
  • 2204 Religion and Religious Studies