Considering the intensive development of public administration as a science, the problem of interdisciplinary connections between secular science and Christian theology is actualized. Not only foreign scientists but also Ukrainian scientists express this problem in both theoretical and practical aspects. Interest in religion, spiritual culture and Christianity in educational programs of universities actualizes the issues of the history of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, which is particularly important for public administration specialists. However, as evidenced by the results of studies by religious scholars, as well as state-administrative observations of the scientific process in a higher education institution, students’ knowledge of religions and the history of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine is formed at an insufficiently appropriate level.
Based on the criteria for assessing the place and role of the Orthodox Church in the life of the Ukrainian state, a scientific understanding of Christian theology in state administration has been developed. A comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis of the transformation of the theological thought of Christianity in the conditions of qualitative and quantitative changes in the relations of the Orthodox Church with the state was carried out. The main regularities of the development of the definition of the concept of “theology” in the Christian social thought of Ukrainian theologians were established, in particular, the Christian methodology and the views of theologian-scientists on the life of the church and the state-building processes of Ukraine were studied.
The relationship between spiritual changes in the social and political life of the Ukrainian state and changes in the social teachings of the Orthodox Church was analyzed, as a result of which it was established that the most significant influence of the Orthodox Church on modern society occurs under the conditions of a constructive dialogue between the state and religious organizations. The problematic field of formation and development of the social teaching of Ukrainian Orthodoxy in the democratic space of the Ukrainian state is inextricably linked with new communication relations in Ukrainian society and such concepts as “communication”, “church”, “civil society”, and “state”. Christian theology can be called a blood-forming system of institutionalization of the church. And this theological statement has real historical, cultural and socio-political prerequisites. The social and value foundations of Christian theology (regulatory principles of theological reason, normative provisions, aspirations, and interests that motivate a person) are not only a condition for the development of spiritual and church life but also a spiritual factor influencing the educational, cultural, educational, and scientific dynamics of Ukrainian development society.
It is proved that in the historical development of Christianity, theological science, and university education, the issues of spiritual values of the Orthodox Church became actualized in the conditions of political transformations. That is why the Christian theology of public administration means the church’s ability to perceive modern man’s problems in search of spiritual ideas, concepts, meanings of human existence, spiritual values and, most importantly, in the real conditions of the challenges of the global world. For the actualization of Christian theology, a high level of education of church hierarchs, clergy, theologians, and laypeople is needed, the establishment of a constructive dialogue between the church, the state, and society, and that is why the humanitarian component should be brought to the fore by specialists in the innovative paradigm of national Ukrainian education and public administration as a science.
It is substantiated that public administration as a branch of science should consider the active interpenetration and interaction of the church, the state and society, the synthesis of public administration and Christian theology, scientific and theological thought and management practice. Implementing the social teaching of the Orthodox Church in the sphere of public administration will involve overcoming the alienation of man, state and society through spiritual growth, education and religious education. The new model of public administration should provide for the affirmation in the practice of public administration of the spiritual values of Christianity, spiritual ideals and meanings of Christian theology, which determines the priority of spirituality in determining the goals of public policy and public administration: observance of the Christian ethical tradition, the history of the Ukrainian people, and high moral criteria in the implementation state administration.
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