Toward the abolition of the nation state?

In the run-up to elections to the European Parliament, a paper published today has urged churches not to be diverted by the debate about whether God gets a name check in the EU constitution from weightier questions such as what value there is in national identity and the nation state.

(PRWEB) June 2, 2004 -- In the run-up to elections to the European Parliament, a paper published today has urged churches not to be diverted by the debate about whether God gets a name check in the EU constitution from weightier questions such as what value there is in national identity and the nation state.

Towards the Abolition of the Nation State? European and National Identity in Christian Perspective" is written by Canon Richard Franklin and represents a joint publication by Sarum College in Salisbury and the theological think-tank Ekklesia .

The question of our national and European identities remains urgent and disputed. But the new publication suggests that by and large Christian thinkers have played only a small part in the debate over moves towards political unity in Europe and have paid little attention to its theological significance. The paper argues that rather than pushing for the recognition of Christianity in the EU constitution the key question that must be addressed is whether the idea of the nation state has any value.

Canon Richard Franklin concurs with one leading theologian who has addressed the question of Europe, Wolfhart Pannenberg, who says that 'the modern elevation of the nation as the dominant model of political action can be seen as a contradiction to the international traditions of Christianity and to their source in the Christian hope that all humans may participate in the Kingdom of God.

Richard Franklin said; The spirit of universalism, internationalism and Catholicism which is at the heart of the Christian faith means that narrow patriotism and nationalistic bigotry are inimical to the gospel."

But he points out, Christians are far from immune themselves in following such patterns.

Christians have often equated their religion with their national loyalties and nationalist leaders have used Christianity in its various forms as a tool for the establishment of national cultural homogeneity", Franklin says. But seeing one's own nation as specially chosen leads to sinful self-aggrandisement and a failure to recognise that all individuals and communities are subject to universal divine Lordship and judgement."

The paper points out that spiritual equality and unity and the breaking down of racial, cultural and religious barriers are central to the New Testament and the main currents of Christian political theology. Since internationalism is at the heart of Christian political thought, it suggests, it is legitimate to consider whether the nation-state or, indeed, anything short of some kind of comprehensive international political unity can be justified.

Richard Franklin continues; Nation states must not view themselves as 'ends in themselves'. They are a phenomenon of political history which have many defects. In Christian perspective they can have practical, but only transient, value as a step on the road towards the wider political unit implied by the gospel."

However the author also points out that the 'Fortress Europe' mentality is a temptation towards an excluding Empire that must be resisted.

Politically the EU exists to allow the flourishing of all other forms of collective identity contained within a framework which does not allow natural differences to develop into anything that is destructive", he says.

Franklin points out that in history peace has usually been maintained by the force of arms, but that the EU is remarkable because the peace, justice, democracy and rights enjoyed by the citizens of Europe are upheld by consensual politics."

Notes to Editors
Towards the Abolition of the Nation State? - European and National Identity in Christian Perspective" is a joint publication by the theological think-tank Ekklesia and Sarum College in Salisbury.

The paper is based on a lecture delivered on 1 May 2004, the day of Enlargement of the European Union from 15 to 25 member-states at a conference of students of Sarum Colleges Politics and Theology Programme.

Review copies are available from Nick Townsend at Sarum College: -01722 424828 or 07870 907745. Copies are also available for sale from Sarum College Bookshop (01722 326899; bookshop@sarum.ac.uk ), priced 3.95.

About the reports author
Canon Richard Franklin is the European Officer for the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury. He serves on the Board of Church and Society and regularly publishes Issues Facing Church and Society leaflets for the Diocese. Formerly he was a lecturer in Ethics at Chichester Theological College. He was a founding member of the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics and the founding editor of the journal Studies in Christian Ethics in 1987. He has undertaken research on the relationship between the churches and the European institutions, including a period of study spent in Strasbourg

About Sarum College
Sarum College is a Christian theological college for lay people. Part of its work aims to contribute to equipping Christians for service in working life, especially, to date, public life and politics. For more information on the Politics and Theology Programme see www.sarum.ac.uk/society

About Ekklesia
Ekklesia is a think-tank that works to promote theological ideas in public life. It is an initiative of the Anvil Trust charity no. 1010354. For more information see: www.ekklesia.co.uk

Contact
The reports author, Canon Richard Franklin, richardfranklin@iname.com 01305 760354

Jonathan Bartley, director Ekklesia, director@ekklesia.co.uk 020 8769 8163 or 07771 598097

Nick Townsend, Director of Sarum Colleges Politics and Theology Programme, nnt@sarum.ac.uk 01722 424828 or 07870 907745