Was hat die Dreifaltigkeit mit Politik zu tun? Zum öffentlich-theologischen Potential altkatholischer Theologie

In this essay, a comparison is made between the Trinitarian theology and anthropology that has become characteristic for Old Catholic theology and of the broader ecumenical theological tradition (Faith and Order) and a contemporary analysis of Western culture based on the work of the French novelist Michel Houellebecq and his appeal to religion as a potential savior of such culture by the Dutch politician Thierry Baudet in an essay that drew much attention in the course of 2019. Using the work of the Swiss theologian Herwig Aldenhoven in particular, it is shown how the understanding of the role of religion, in particular Christianity, in society in both approaches can be understood more clearly by comparing them to each other. Beyond this, it is also demonstrated, how a Trinitarian anthropology, in which human beings become persons by entering into free relationships with each other, is incompatible with an understanding of religion that serves to make individuals submit to a group (e.g., a society or a nation) for the sake of the greater good of this group. From a Trinitarian perspective, communion and personhood are shown not to be each other’s competitors, but rather to coincide and mutually imply each other. Therefore, the connection made between conservative politics and Christianity, as suggested by Baudet is untenable. In arguing this case, this contribution seeks to make a contribution to the development of an ecumenically inspired Old Catholic political theology.