The great peaceful demonstration on October9, 1989 was the breakthrough to end die ideological dictatorship of the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany). The revolution ended a long time of oppression and mostly non-public conflict in East Germany, especially with respect to atheistic education and the exclusion of Christians from the "Socialist Society". The Protestant majority-church in Eastern Germany sought to witness to Christ by its independent presence and self-determined cooperation with other forces in the society. Christian reflections about social problems, peace, ecology, human rights or even a "better Socialism" questioned the totalitarian pretensions of die SED. Ecclesiastical events and activities of opposition groups, mostly dose to the churches, became more and more a problem for the SED, especially since 1978. The frank speaking in the churches, free statements and prayers encouraged people who had before been silenced by die SED-dictatorship to use their own words in public. The declaration of the Ecumenical Assembly in Dresden in April 1989 about urgent reforms in the GDR became soon known as the "Magna Charta of die Peaceful Revolution".

Enthalten in:
Theologische Literaturzeitung; 2009/10 Monatsschrift für das gesamte Gebiet der Theologie und Religionswissenschaft (2009)

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Serie / Reihe: Theologische Literaturzeitung

Personen: Mau, Rudolf

Schlagwörter: Kirche Befreiung Friedliche Revolution in der DDR