THE IMPORTANCE AND CONCRETIZATION OF THE PROJECT OF GLOBAL ETHOS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA FROM A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This discussion views the project of Global Ethos as a programatical challenge to Catholicism and the level of Christianity of the Catholic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the first step towards a positive answer to that challenge is the acceptance of the spirit of selfcriticism and joint commitment of believers and non-believers around public welfare. The principle of humanity is contextualized as an invitation to reckoning with evil of religious nationalism, and the principle of reciprocity as an invitation to voluntary acceptance of responsibility for the sake of strengthening and realization of human rights. The culture of non-violence and awe before every kind of life reminds the Catholic Community that non-violence and pacifism are the essence of Christianity which, in our context, requires a split from „humanization and sanctification of violence“ in the name of ideology of national security. The culture of solidarity and just economic order unconditionally demands from the Catholic Community to overcome the silence in face of growing social injustice in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The culture of tolerance and living in truth invites the Catholic Community, as the guardian of national remembrance of Catholics and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the process of restoration and cleansing of historical memory by admitting the guilt and seeking forgiveness for the evil done onto others, for that is the only way to rise above harbouring a grudge which revives the old and strengthens the present-day hatreds. The culture of equality and partnership between a man and a woman requires from the Catholic Community to seek out an active commitment against sexual abuse and discrimination, knowing that it is, as often as not, supported by our patriarchal heritage based on distorted presentation of religion. The project of Global Ethos places the same challenge before other religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Only if they positively and concretely respond to the challenges of the project of Global Ethos, will religious communities become a positive factor of a dialogue of a society as a whole and inter-religious dialogue. On the contrary, they will become partial to post-modern mentality of religion without God, which is nothing else but an ideological construction for concealment of personal or collective voracity and callousness.