Reframing the European project
The European project is under stress. There is a crisis in the soul of Europe. The project cannot be restored to health without a new appreciation of the contribution of Christianity to its past and future. How can the project be reframed as an open institutional forum in which ‘plurality of souls’ can constructively cooperate and contest.
Chair: Jeff Fountain
9:30 – 11:00:
Introductions
Presentation 1- Dr Jonathan Chaplin: Christianity & the ‘Souls’ of Europe
Presentation 2- Dr Stefan Waanders: e-Utopia – In quest of Europe
Discussion
Dr Jonathan Chaplin (UK), is the first Director of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics, in Cambridge, a position he took up in September 2006. He is Member of the Divinity Faculty of Cambridge University, and was Visiting Lecturer at the VU University, Amsterdam from 2007-2011. He is a specialist in Christian political thought, and has authored or edited nine books and reports, and many articles, in this field. His most recent publication is God and the EU: Faith in the European Project, co-editor (Routledge, 2016). He is currently writing a book called Faith in Democracy? Towards a Post-secularist Settlement.
Dr Stefan Waanders (NL), worked for the Thomas More Foundation for 17 years, nine of which as director. He studied history and religious studies, and has worked in Taizé (France), in a house for the homeless, as a bus driver, and in business. He has authored and edited numerous articles and several books.
Recommended reading: What is the EU for? Jonathan Chaplin
Presentation 1- Dr Jonathan Chaplin: Christianity & the ‘Souls’ of Europe
YESTERDAY I ADDRESSED THE QUESTION, ‘WHAT IS THE EU FOR?’ I SUGGESTED THAT, AS A POLITICAL INSTITUTION, THE EU HAS THE UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROMOTING THE GOALS OF JUSTICE, PEACE, SOLIDARITY AND FREEDOM ACROSS EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPACE, IN WAYS SUITABLE FOR A TRANSNATIONAL POLITICAL INSTITUTION. EUROPEAN POLITICAL INTEGRATION, SO FAR AS IT IS NECESSARY, IS INTEGRATION AROUND THOSE GOALS. THAT IS WHAT EUROPEAN POLITICAL UNITY INVOLVES, AND IT IS IN PURSUIT OF THOSE SPECIFIC GOALS THAT AN EU-WIDE IDENTITY SHOULD BE PURSUED.
I said that this is a visionary and a noble task – however poorly we think it is actually being performed right now. But I also said it is a limited task: it does not include promoting every European good, organising all of European civil society, or fixing every social problem. Much belongs to other agencies: individual citizens, families, markets, and the many organisations of civil society. Today I want to suggest two things: first, that this limited remit of the EU means that the EU also cannot officially represent or promote any one faith, one ‘soul’, even Christianity; and second, that nevertheless Christians must actively and confidently seize all the opportunities they have to contribute their insights on the task of EU in the public realm. They must put their heart and soul into the EU. These two things are not only opposed to each other, they support each other.
Presentation 2- Dr Stefan Waanders: e-Utopia – In quest of Europe
EUROPE PUZZLES ME. I CONSIDER HER AS A PERSPECTIVE OF HOPE. BUT SINCE THE DRAMA OF SREBRENICA (1995) I CAN’T IGNORE THE QUESTION: WHAT IS THERE ABOUT EUROPE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN? EUROPE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE NOT IDENTICAL, BUT THERE IS A RELATION. I AM CONVINCED WE CAN’T AFFORD A FAILURE OF THE PROJECT EU. BUT THE PROJECT HAS BECOME BOGGED DOWN AND NEEDS A NEW IMPULSE. I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INVITATION TO DIALOGUE ON WHAT THIS NEW IMPULSE MIGHT BE.
To begin with I quote a wise European thinker, Romano Guardini.
“When dealing with the essential questions of existence, it is more important to work through the problem than to choose a dodgy ‘solution’. Because that is often paid for by simplification and the living consciousness feels it and becomes suspicious. When the problem is unfolded in its true extent, our spirit knows it is being confronted with reality and that is much more beneficient even if no solution is achieved.” Read more