Iron Curtain of Fear: Theological Interpretations of Data About Attitudes of Christians Towards Refugees from Surveys in Central Europe

Authors

Michal Opatrný, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, CzechiaFollow
Paul Michael Zulehner, Vienna University, Vienna, AustriaFollow
Jozef Žuffa, Trnava University, Bratislava, Slovakia.Follow

Author ORCID Identifier

Michal Opatrný: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1487-0002

Paul Michael Zulehner: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7997-6388

Jozef Žuffa: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8313-0681

Abstract

The study aims to combine the data from three different but mutually inspired surveys of theologians about attitudes and feelings of Christians towards the so-called refugee crisis in Europe in 2015. The study combines the data from surveys in German speaking countries and from Czechia and Slovakia and focuses on attitudes (defense, skepticism, welcome) and feelings (angry, worry, hope). Topics like authoritarianism or attending Sunday services show the connections between practicing of Christian faith and readiness to receive or reject refugees. In the second part the study offers an interpretation of the results from the combining of the data for the praxis of Christians in EU countries.

Recommended Citation

Opatrný, Michal; Zulehner, Paul Michael; and Žuffa, Jozef (2023) "Iron Curtain of Fear: Theological Interpretations of Data About Attitudes of Christians Towards Refugees from Surveys in Central Europe," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 43 : Iss. 3 , Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2148.2416
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol43/iss3/4