Social Justice Secretariat

Jesuits and Partners in mission together for Justice

	Promotio Iustitiae
	At the service of Faith that does Justice

Download pdf

In the heart of the world. A Christian commitment to society

Guy Cossée de Maulde SJ

Au cœur du monde. L'engagement du chrétien dans la société. (In the heart of the world. A Christian commitment to society), by Jean-Marie Faux SJ. Brussels, Éditions Lumen Vitae (Trajectoires collection, 20), 2009, 131 p.

This study intends to offer a theological foundation to Christian social and civic commitment and demonstrate its central nature. Christians are not separate from society, they live in the heart of the world. They share with their human sisters and brothers responsibility for creating a just world, a world according to the heart of God. It is thus necessary to encourage those who refer to the Christian faith to examine critically the way in which their faith underpins their commitment as citizens of the world today.

The key to the work is the reference to the Kingdom of God which occupies a central position in the Gospels, in close relation to the figure of Jesus Christ. The author proposes an exegetic journey to observe more deeply this historic reference and deploy it through time, as well as an updated analysis and situating of this commitment today, together with its community dimension. The Church will be situated here as community of the disciples of Christ, in the service of this Kingdom which expands in the heart of the world.

The world we live in today is both unified and divided. « In this context, what is important? », asks the author at the end of the book. « It seems to us », he writes « what is important is to rediscover faith in the human being, trust in the best of themselves, the call to freedom and awareness raising among men and women of good will. What is important for Christians is to commit themselves with others to this common task, bringing all the resources of the heart and spirit brought them by the Good News of Jesus Christ, and above all with unwavering hope. "Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).

Jean-Marie Faux is a Belgian Jesuit and a theologian (emeritus professor at the Institute of Theological Studies in Brussels). At the same time for many years now he has been actively involved in numerous associations working for human rights and the creation of a just world. He is currently administrator of MRAX (Movement against Racism and Xenophobia) and a member of Centre AVEC (Social Research and Action Centre - Brussels). It is on the basis of situations experienced in the field that he has been inspired to re-examine the scriptural foundations of the Christian faith and write this reflection.

Subscribe to our newsletter

RSS

Tags

“alongside” “other” abandonment absolute value ACLO Adivasi Africa Aggiornamento Alfred Toppo SJ Alfredo Feroo SJ analysis animal origin as men for and with others attitude Australia Australian Perspective Aymara benefits Bertrand Cassaigne SJ biblical idea of justice biological control Bolivia Brian McCoy SJ Brotherhood Calls for Justice and Reconciliation campesinos Canada Caritas in Veritate Catholic social teaching change Christ Christian Faith Christological vision Christology Christopher Lakra SJ Christopher S. Collins SJ Chrurch Church CiV commitment complexity connotation Continual Challenge continual renewal conventional agriculture Convergences Covenant crisis crop rotation cultural cultural changes cultural heritage cultural identity cultural values cultures decay Declaration of the United Nations defense democracy develop structures dialogue different difficult challenge dignity displaced dispossessed distributive justice Divergences Drongen Drongen discussion Ecofarming ecological crisis econimic economic crisis economic initiatives economic model eco-sustainable ecosystem effects efforts enous populations environment Eucharist Europe evangelization exploitation exploited faith faith experience Father’s love Fernando Alvarado SJ Fernando Franco SJ fertilizers Framework Frank Turner fundamental aspects Gabino Uríbarri GC 35 Giacomo Costa SJ global globalization globalized economy goal of pilgrimages God’s Kingdom Gospel Green Commerce Greg Soetomo SJ Gujarat Henri Madelin SJ historical perspective Hugues Delétraz SJ human development ideologies India indigenous farmers Indigenous People indigenous peoples indigenous populations individuals Indonesia industrial development injustices interdisciplinary interests International Crisis international realities interreligious character Interview invitation its resources JCEAO JCIM Jean-Yves Calvez Jerónimo Hernández SJ Jesuit Agricultural Training Centre Jesuit social thinkers Jesuits Jharkhand Jinhyuk Park SJ Jon Sagastagoitia SJ Joseph Fung SJ justice lands Latin America lay leaders legacy of colonization liberal model liberalization liturgical encounter local long-term love Malaysia marginalization marginalized Michael Murray mineral resources mission modernity moral multicultural multireligious native cultures native peoples natural needs new economic models new experience new perspectives new respect new values Nicene-Constantinopolitan Ontatio oppressed oppressed by poverty oppression option Ordinary Governance original inhabitants Other Documents own commitment own history papal encyclical Paul Béré SJ peace peoples philosophe Pierre de Charentenay SJ Pierre Defraigne plunder poor Pope Benedict post-modernity poverty practices pre-modern version presence process of Sanskritization processes of expulsion proclamation profit-seeking programmes progress promotion Prophetic Witness protagonists psychological real change reason recognize Reconciliation redeemed reductionism Reflection regional religions renew renewal Report reservations respect respect for diversity revolutionary right risk of disappearing Roman tradition salvation Second African Synod signs of the times social social encyclical social milieu social nature societies society Society of Jesus socio-political Spanish conquest structures sustainability their cultures their lands their material resources themes of faith théologien to believe to promote to rediscover traditional values Transfiguration transformative processes transition Trinity truth unspeakable value values Vatican Council Vatican II Veluswamy Jeyaraj SJ vision wealth accumulation William Ryan SJ Xavier Albo SJ Xavier Manjooran SJ