The Holistic Development of Society The Contributions of the Christian Church

This paper aims to reflect upon the role of the Christian Church as a natural factor in the holistic development of society. In this respect, the main role of the Church will be viewed in light of the twenty–first century Christianity, in the context of the global society. Factors such as access to information, the increase of knowledge, and the emergence of knowledge–based society in a globalizing world often give the impression that they are the main development drivers of the postmodern society. However, the development of society is naturally linked to the development of the individual within different contexts such as provided by family, school, church and society. From a Christian perspective the holistic transformation of humanity and the restoration of universal order is the ultimate goal of the divine in the “relocation†of His Kingdom on earth. During the twentieth century, the trend manifested by the Church was more on the edge of social responsibility as an agent of a secular society, affecting the application of the principle of Christian responsibility. According to the principle of Christian responsibility, the relationships within a society are an expression that flows naturally from the relationship with God. Sociologic and religious research combines theological thinking of Christianity with social conditioning, thus giving the Christian Church the responsibility of being a serious contender and agent for a holistic transformation of humanity and of restoring the universal order; thus fulfilling the divine plan.