Panel: RELIGION IN DIALOGUE. TRANSFORMATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND CHANCES



871.8 - 'ECUMENISM OF HATE'? INTERDENOMINATIONAL COLLABORATIONS IN TRADITIONALIST YOUTH WORK AND ADULT EDUCATION IN AUSTRIA

AUTHORS:
Limacher K. (Programme Manager of the "Vienna Doctoral School of Theology and Research on Religion", University of Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Mattes-Zippenfenig A. (Associate Professor, Department of Systematic Theology and Ethics, University of Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria)
Text:
The global Christian right is characterised by a shared traditionalist ideology and unexpected interdenominational networking among a wide variety of actors, as well as transnational links. They have found common strategies that collectively attack the liberal-democratic consensus, linking together the traditionalist spectrum of Catholic and Protestant mainline churches with evangelical, charismatic, and primarily politically engaged religious groups. They aim to change a society that is perceived as being overly egalitarian through various forms of activism. In Austria, youth work and adult education are key areas of activity in this regard. This paper highlights interdenominational networks and initiatives within private universities, adult education programmes and youth work. We investigate a specific form of interreligious dialogue often referred to as 'ecumenism of hate'. Recent research has described this as a particular configuration of traditionalist ideology, put forward by actors from different Christian denominations relying on strategies emphasising the building of global networks. Our aim is to contribute insights from the Austrian national context, exemplified in the field of educational activities outside of public schools, to the growing body of literature on the global Christian right. - RELIGION IN DIALOGUE WITH POLITICS AND GENDER -