Prasa Kościoła Ewangelicko-Augsburskiego jako obraz dyskursu narodowego i kulturowego luteran w II Rzeczypospolitej

Abstract

This work is based on an extensive survey of German-language and Polish-language journals. Its main part contains an analysis of selected articles from leading evangelical journals in Poland. The dissertation shows differences in the perception of Lutheran culture by various parties in the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland: primarily between supporters of the Polonization of the Church's religious culture and supporters of its traditional German character. In the absence of clear theological indications in this respect, the cultural discourse in the press was very diverse. The arguments for Polonization were i.a. the tradition of subordinating the Church to secular authority and the desire for peaceful coexistence with Polish society. The rebirth of Poland was described as a work of divine providence and Poland was compared to biblical David. Texts in Polish-language magazines also focused on constructing optimistic visions of the future and often referred to the history of the 16th century as the golden age of the Polish Reformation. For supporters of Germanism, the continuation of the tradition of ancestors immersed in a specific language and rite was of significant value. Preserving the heritage in an unchanged form, pride in cultural achievements, and finally, a longing for a certain Lutheran universalism associated with the German language - these were i.a. visions that motivated actions aimed at strengthening the German element in the Church.