Against Evil: A Theological Interpretation of Czech Public Discourse on the War in Ukraine

The article offers a theological interpretation of Czech society’s experience of the war in Ukraine. It is based on the observation that the public response to this conflict bears the features of a struggle over what is perceived as sacred, in other words as a sphere of values regarded as non‑negotiable and inviolable. The aim is to understand why the threat to these values in a secular context takes on the characteristics of a religious experience of loss, and how this phenomenon can be approached theologically. Methodologically, the study adopts an interpretative and comparative approach, analysing social expressions of solidarity as manifestations of values perceived sociologically as sacred and bringing them into dialogue with biblical traditions. It also analyses social expressions of solidarity, moral mobilization, and traces of cultural trauma. It also examines the biblical conception of justice, law, and truth and finally explores their interrelation. The study concludes that these values function as elements ensuring the world’s coherence and meaningfulness, and that, in a theological perspective, they find their foundation in God’s faithfulness.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Studia theologica
Published
2026-10-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5507/sth.2026.014
Primary Topic
Religion and Society Interactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Against Evil: A Theological Interpretation of Czech Public Discourse on the War in Ukraine

Jiří Dosoudil
5 links
Studia theologica
Religion and Society Interactions
article

Against Evil: A Theological Interpretation of Czech Public Discourse on the War in Ukraine

Jiří Dosoudil
article en

Abstract

The article offers a theological interpretation of Czech society’s experience of the war in Ukraine. It is based on the observation that the public response to this conflict bears the features of a struggle over what is perceived as sacred, in other words as a sphere of values regarded as non‑negotiable and inviolable. The aim is to understand why the threat to these values in a secular context takes on the characteristics of a religious experience of loss, and how this phenomenon can be approached theologically. Methodologically, the study adopts an interpretative and comparative approach, analysing social expressions of solidarity as manifestations of values perceived sociologically as sacred and bringing them into dialogue with biblical traditions. It also analyses social expressions of solidarity, moral mobilization, and traces of cultural trauma. It also examines the biblical conception of justice, law, and truth and finally explores their interrelation. The study concludes that these values function as elements ensuring the world’s coherence and meaningfulness, and that, in a theological perspective, they find their foundation in God’s faithfulness.

Studia theologicaVol. 28(2)
Charles University (CZ)
Peace, justice, and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Religion and Society Interactions
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon