BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence F. Raichynets METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260626T094500 DTEND:20260626T111500 DTSTAMP:20260626T094500 UID:phd-defence-f-raichynets@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260921T091129 LOCATION: SUMMARY:PhD defence F. Raichynets X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Revolution and Ukrai nian Evangelical Churches

Ukrainian churches shif ted from obedience to resistance during the Revolution of Dignity

Theologian Fedir Raichynets’ research shows how Ukrain ian evangelical churches fundamentally revised their interpretation o f one of the most influential Bible passages on authority and governm ent during the Revolution of Dignity in 2013 and 2014. Whereas the te xt from Romans 13 is traditionally seen as a call for obedience to th e government, the idea grew during the political crisis that resistan ce against unjust authority can, in fact, be a moral duty.

Raic hynets investigated how evangelical churches in Ukraine dealt with th e growing tensions between citizens and the state. In the early phase of the protests, the central question was whether Christians were ev en permitted to resist the government. As the conflict escalated and state violence against protesters increased, the interpretation of Ro mans 13 also changed. Increasingly, resistance to injustice was viewe d not only as permissible but also as ethically necessary.

Acco rding to Raichynets, this shows that religious interpretations are no t static but evolve under the influence of social and political circu mstances. Within the Ukrainian evangelical community, the crisis led to a shift in emphasis from obedience to political authorities to the defense of human dignity and the fight against injustice.

The research addresses a pressing question facing religious communities w orldwide: how should they act when governments clash with fundamental values such as justice, human dignity, and the common good? Raichyne ts’ findings show that religious beliefs can play a significant rol e in civic engagement and moral decision-making during times of polit ical tension, war, or authoritarian developments.

In addition, Raichynets’ research offers practical insights for theological educ ation and church leaders. A better understanding of the relationship between faith, state power, and civic responsibility can help religio us communities prepare for complex ethical dilemmas. In doing so, he also contributes to the broader debate on a possible “theology of r esistance”: the question of under what circumstances resistance to political authorities can be justified both theologically and morally .

More information about the dissertation

< /html> DESCRIPTION: Revolution and Ukrainian Evangelical Churches

Ukrainian churches shifted from obedience to resistance during the R evolution of Dignity

Theologian Fedir Raichynets’ rese arch shows how Ukrainian evangelical churches fundamentally revised t heir interpretation of one of the most influential Bible passages on authority and government during the Revolution of Dignity in 2013 and 2014. Whereas the text from Romans 13 is traditionally seen as a cal l for obedience to the government, the idea grew during the political crisis that resistance against unjust authority can, in fact, be a m oral duty.Raichynets investigated how evangelical churches in Ukraine dealt with the growing tensions between citizens and the state. In t he early phase of the protests, the central question was whether Chri stians were even permitted to resist the government. As the conflict escalated and state violence against protesters increased, the interp retation of Romans 13 also changed. Increasingly, resistance to injus tice was viewed not only as permissible but also as ethically necessa ry.According to Raichynets, this shows that religious interpretations are not static but evolve under the influence of social and politica l circumstances. Within the Ukrainian evangelical community, the cris is led to a shift in emphasis from obedience to political authorities to the defense of human dignity and the fight against injustice.The research addresses a pressing question facing religious communities w orldwide: how should they act when governments clash with fundamental values such as justice, human dignity, and the common good? Raichyne ts’ findings show that religious beliefs can play a significant rol e in civic engagement and moral decision-making during times of polit ical tension, war, or authoritarian developments.In addition, Raichyn ets’ research offers practical insights for theological education a nd church leaders. A better understanding of the relationship between faith, state power, and civic responsibility can help religious comm unities prepare for complex ethical dilemmas. In doing so, he also co ntributes to the broader debate on a possible “theology of resistan ce”: the question of under what circumstances resistance to politic al authorities can be justified both theologically and morally.More i nformation about the dissertation END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR