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The Heritage from Athens and Galilee: Secular Democracy as a Lutheran Response to the European Crisis

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European Self-Reflection between Politics and Religion

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Abstract

The story of Hal Koch is a close up on an individual living in the European crisis of the twentieth century. As he took active part in trying to find a way out of or through this crisis he made use of his historical heritage. His work is interesting not only due to his influence in Denmark but also because it represents and exemplifies general or even principal questions regarding Christianity and culture, religion and politics or secularization. It is a story of an individual departing from a specific understanding of Christianity, using history in a time of crisis to point to a way out — a renewed Danish democratic identity.

Eyn Christen mensch ist eyn freyer herr ueber alle ding und niemandt unterthan.

Eyn Christen mensch ist eyn dienstpar knecht aller ding und yderman unterthan.

Martin Luther, 1520 (1897, p. 21)

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Authors
  1. Tine Reeh
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lars K. Bruun (Senior Lecturer) (Senior Lecturer)

  2. The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    Karl Christian Lammers (Senior Lecturer) (Senior Lecturer)

  3. Department of English, German and Romance Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    Gert Sørensen (Senior Lecturer) (Senior Lecturer)

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© 2013 Tine Reeh

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Reeh, T. (2013). The Heritage from Athens and Galilee: Secular Democracy as a Lutheran Response to the European Crisis. In: Bruun, L.K., Lammers, K.C., Sørensen, G. (eds) European Self-Reflection between Politics and Religion. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137315113_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137315113_8

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-45592-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-31511-3

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History CollectionHistory (R0)

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