Christianity and the Search for a Cohesive European Identity: Toward a Public Theology of Memory, Ethics, and Encounter

Abstract: As Europe navigates an age of migration, secularization, and political polarization, the question resurfaces: can religion still contribute to a cohesive European identity? While Christianity has historically shaped Europe’s cultural, institutional, and moral architecture, its role in the 21st century is increasingly contested. This paper explores how religion, particularly Christianity, reframed through a constructive model of public theology, can foster social cohesion without retreating into triumphalism or exclusion. The paper presents three models for understanding religion’s public function in Europe: (1) Christianity as cultural heritage, which emphasizes symbolic continuity; (2) Christianity as moral framework, which contributes to ethical deliberation within democratic pluralism; and (3) Christianity in pluralistic encounter, which cultivates civic relationships through interfaith and intercommunal cooperation. A final constructive section proposes a vision of Christian public theology that affirms memory, nurtures ethical responsibility, and promotes dialogical engagement. Rather than reclaiming Christendom, this paper calls for a public Christianity grounded in humility, justice, and dialogical presence. When disentangled from ethno-nationalist identity claims and practiced as a contributor to the common good, religion can support a cohesive, inclusive, and ethically grounded European identity. Keywords: Christian Public Theology, European Identity, Religious Pluralism, Cultural Memory, Democratic Ethics, Moral Imagination, Solidarity, Interfaith Cooperation, Public Reason, Post-Secular Society