Intellectual Respectability of Faith: Philosophico-Theological Approach
Intellectual Respectability of Faith: Philosophico-Theological Approach

Summary/Abstract: The issues of religion and morality, of faith versus reason have become highly topical in the public discourse in Latvia lately. The discussions concerning the role of religion in determining of moral actions have moved outside the precincts of purely personal concern and have acquired the form of a public debate on Church – State relations and related topics. In particular, for example, concerning the questions of the school curricula with regard to sexual education. Notwithstanding the fact that Latvia is constitutionally a secular state and the separation of State and Church has been regulated by law, initiatives have been undertaken designed to enhance the significance of the (reputedly) Christian values as against the immorality and depravity of the modern age. A parliamentary law has been enacted to ensure the proper level of “virtuous education” in schools and a special governmental body to supervise this process is to be set up. A significant number of intellectuals have condemned these measures as “censorship” and rejected them as an outrageous attack on personal liberty. The cleft between the defenders of traditional Christian values and the critics of the Church as an outdated obscurantistic institution has fired the imagination of pamphleteers and public opinion makers.

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