Between Paganism and Judaism. Pagans in Diaspora Synagogues during the Roman Domination in Literary and Archeological Testimonies of the First Centuries (1st–3rd Centuries AD)

The article raises the question of Jewish presence in the pagan world, as well as the impact of the institution of the synagogue on the population not belonging to the Chosen People. While analysing the diaspora of the Roman domination in the Middle East, it is also important to draw attention to the non-Jewish supporters gathered around Jewish communities. Who were these pagans remaining connected to the synagogue? Were they on the way to proselytism? Did they accept only the chosen commands of the Law of Moses, not intending to become full members of the synagogue community? Drawing from literary and archeological sources, the article examines the issues related to the group called the “God-fearers” in the subject literature

The Sutras as a Source of Verification of a Direct Insight within the Tradition of Chan Buddhism

The article discusses the connection between Chan Buddhism and the study of the Sutras and Śastras. The first part shows the prevalent view according to which Chan negates the value of texts, focusing only on the direct experience. The author then shows the historical dependence of this view and its lack of compatibility with many Chan Buddhist schools. In the later part, the author discusses the Wenzi Chan current and, based on its postulates, carries out an analysis of the texts belonging to the early Chan tradition. This aims to prove that, contrary to the view presented at the beginning of the article, one can demonstrate the existence of a highly influential movement in which the Sutras are valued equally to the direct insight.

The Phenomenon of Politicisation of Buddhism in the 21st Century

The text focuses on the issues of political interpretation of Buddhism in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, as well as on its role as an element of diplomatic soft power in bilateral Indo-Chinese relationship. The author analyses the problems of self-immolation, non-violence vs violence policies and national identity building in the context of re-defining Buddhism in the political realities of selected Asian countries.

The Philosophical Christology of Eric Voegelin

The aim of this article is to investigate philosophical Christology in the works of Eric Voegelin. It seems that for Voegelin, in the person of Jesus Christ the so-called metaleptical structure of consciousness along with divine reality became luminous as present in every human being. What is more, divine reality (self-)revealed in the event of Christ as an eschatological movement of transfiguration. But the Voegelinian Christ is not the hypostatic union of God and man, but the full presence of divine reality in the consciousness of a man named Jesus. I conclude that Voegelinian Christology points to conditions of God’s revelation: the appearance of God is limited by the metaleptical structure of consciousness and his own transcendence.

The History of the Twentieth-Century Persecutions against the Russian Orthodox Church as Depicted on the Icon of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church

The paper analyses the concept of “the new martyrdom” functioning today in the Russian Orthodox Church. Through this prism, presented on the icon of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russian Church, we examine the official Orthodox perception of the Soviet past, especially the period of persecutions in 1917–1937. Attention is paid to the way the historical facts are shown and to the narrative which is thus created. The authors conclude that the icon and its official description create a glorious vision of history, emphasising the uniqueness of new martyrs’ testimony and abolishing questions about the cause of the revolution and the persecutors. The huge number of martyrs becomes evidence of the spiritual greatness of Russia, whereby victims are treated instrumentally, to give a spiritual meaning to the persecutions, perceived as a part of the eternal struggle between good and evil.