History, Culture, and Society 

Ash, Timothy Garton.  The Magic Lantern.  New York:  Random House, 1990.  An engaging journalistic description of the revolutions in East Central Europe by an eyewitness. 

Nielsen, Niels C.  Revolutions in Eastern Europe; The Religious Roots.  Maryknoll, New York:  Orbis Books, 1991. (Hungary, 49-64; Poland, 65-84; Czechoslovakia, 85-102; Romania, 103-115; Bulgaria, 116-121; Albania, 122-127; and "Anatomy of the Revolutions," 149-160.)  Comprehensive survey comparing the role of the churches and religion in the revolutions, arguing that the bankruptcy of materialism was the root cause.  Sees the churches as providing the basis for civil society. 

Okey, Robin.  "Preface" and "The Feudal Inheritance" in Eastern Europe 1740-1980, Feudalism to Communism.  Minneapolis:  University of Minnesota Press, 1982, 9-34.  A well-crafted, broad-brushed introduction to the history of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to 1980.  The selected pages, which focus mostly on the 16th to 18th centuries, give an insightful overview of many facets of this region's legacy of political subjugation, economic dysfunction, national and ethnic division, and fascinating cultural diversity.  The whole book is well worth the time. 

Stokes, Gale.  The Walls Came Tumbling Down. New York:  Oxford University Press, 1993.  Chapter Six ("1990-1991:  The First Two Years of a Long Time," 168-217) reviews the first post-Communist governments in the region and their attempts at market reforms.  Chapter Seven ("The Devil's Finger:  The Disintegration of Yugoslavia," 218-52) provides a contrast of political decay. 

Church-State Relations 

"Albanian Orthodox Church."  Albanian Insight 4 (January 1994), 1-4.  A helpful introduction.  Future issues will treat Islam and Catholicism. 

Broun, Janice.  "Bulgarian Orthodox Schism."  Religion in Eastern Europe 13 (June 1993),1-5.  Discussion of the split in the dominant church and the political factors causing it.

Mojzes, Paul.  "Albania:  Religion Outlawed" (115-32) and "After the Great Transformation" in "Hungary:  Concessions by Church and State" (263-71) in Religious Liberty in Eastern Europe and the USSR; Before and After the Great Transformation.  Edited by Paul Mojzes.  Boulder, CO:  East European Monographs, 1992.  Balanced treatment of Albania, including the first steps toward relaxation of religious prohibitions in 1989-90.  For more recent developments consult Albanian Insights.  The discussion of Hungary outlines the 1989-90 flowering of freedom of conscience in fact.  Complements the World Christianity chapter on Hungary edited by Philip Walters. 

____________.  "The Role of the Religious Communities in the War in Former Yugoslavia."  Religion in Eastern Europe 13 (June 1993), 13-22.  Longtime scholar of Yugoslavia finds that all churches have appealed to nationalism, exacerbating ethnic conflict. 

Nagorski, Andrew.  "The God and the Devil" in his The Birth of Freedom.  New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993, 231-69.  Veteran Time correspondent discusses religion and social mores in the post-1989 settings, especially in East Central Europe.  39 Neuhaus, John.  "Poland:  Reflections on a New World," First Things, no. 40 (February 1994), 19-22.  A conservative Catholic commentary favorable to a Catholic church facing the dilemmas of freedom. 

Pope, Earl.  "The Role of Religion in the Romanian Revolution," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe 12 (March 1992), 1-18.  Reviews the various denominations, the growth of neo-Protestant groups, the role of the Reformed church in the revolution, and the issues dividing the churches under conditions of partial democratization. 

Ramet, Sabrina Petra.  "The New Church-State Configuration in Eastern Europe" and Gerd Stricker, "Afterword" in Protestantism and Politics in Eastern Europe and Russia.  Ed. by Sabrina Ramet.  Durham, NC:  Duke University Press, 1992, 310-51.  Although most contributions in this volume were written before the collapse of communism, these concluding chapters by established specialists ably treat Protestant diversity and the dramatic changes in church-state policies since 1989. 

Trojan, Jakub.  "The Position of the Church Throughout the Changes in Czechoslovak Society."  Religion in Eastern Europe 14 (February 1994), 18-43.  Czech authorities denied this Czech Brethren pastor and professor the right to preach from 1974 to 1990.  Treats wide-ranging state interference in church life, Christian-Marxist dialogue, Christian Peace Conference leader J.L. Hromadka (with ambivalence), and the exhilarating but difficult adjustment of the church to life after socialism. 

Walters, Philip, ed.  "Hungary" in World Christianity:  Eastern Europe (Monrovia, CA: Missions Advanced Research and Communication Center, 1988), 143-71.  Provides a fair-minded overview of the history of Hungarian Catholics and Protestants and summarizes developments in Christian evangelistic and social outreach, education, and literature distribution. 

Evangelical Ministry in East Central Europe 

Boszormenyi, Dalma and Harold Delaney.  "A Hurting Hungary." East-West Church & Ministry Report 1 (Spring 1993), 6-7.  Discusses the challenge to Christian work posed by the psychological damage inflicted by communism. 

Covington, William.  "Albania Firsthand."  East-West Church & Ministry Report 1 (Spring 1993), 6.  Growth of churches, mission cooperation, and proposed restrictive legislation are discussed.  Urges coordination, lobbying, and prayer to keep Albania open. 

Davies, Ron.  After Gorbachev?  How Can Western Christians Help?  Eastbourne, England: Missions Advanced Research and Communication Center, 1991, 17-25; 123-33.  Some of the most sensible counsel to be found anywhere for Western Christians seeking to be of service in post-Soviet societies.  Another volume worth reading cover to cover. 

Kuzmic, Peter.  "Myths and Misunderstandings in East European Ministry Today" in East-West Christian Organizations Directory.  Ed. by Sharon Linzey et al.  Evanston, IL:  Berry Publishing Services, 1993, 36-38.  Myths debunked include:  1) the present spiritual hunger will last; 2) Eastern Europe's salvation is in Western hands; 3) money will solve Eastern Europe's problems; 4) East European Christians are saints; and 5) research is not necessary. 

Moore, Art.  "Albanian Encouragement Project." East-West Church & Ministry Report 1 (Spring 1993), 5.  Describes the cooperative efforts of 30 Evangelical agencies in church-planting, theological education, literature distribution, and relief and development.  1 Tson, Joseph.  "Towards Reformation in Romania."  East-West Church & Ministry Report 1 (Spring 1993), 1-2.  Former dissident Baptist signals problems of short-term Western ministries, including follow-up and training, and challenge from the Orthodox church.  2 

575 Compiled by Robert F. Goeckel, Associate Professor of Political Science, State University of New York, Geneseo, and author of The Lutheran Church and the East German State:  Political Conflict and Change Under Ulbricht and Honecker (Ithaca, NY:  Cornell University Press, 1990).

Mark Elliott and Robert F. Goeckel, compilers, "Recommended Reading for Ministry in the Former Soviet Union and East Central Europe," East-West Church & Ministry Report, 2 (Spring 1994), 7-9.

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© 1994 East-West Church and Ministry Report
ISSN 1069-5664