PUBLIC THEOLOGY AND RECONCILIATION

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Institutions
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Introduction
Socially developed and just societies have been founded upon theological intervention. The political actions and Christian involvement in the reconciliation process have been embraced in the contemporary Australian politics. The differences between the indigenous and non-indigenous Australians have been influenced by the absence of knowledge, respect, and understanding. According to the analysis of the theological principles involved in reconciliation, forgiveness and truth are the most paramount virtues of the Christian ways. The aim of the Christian involvement in the public reconciliation domain is to develop a truthful public relationship. Public theology helps in explaining the responsiveness of the indigenous perspectives concerning diversified policy matters. This paper aims at discussing some of the theological principles applicable in the indigenous reconciliation in Australia as well as the lessons that Christians derive from participating in public reconciliation debates.
Reconciliation in Indigenous Australia
The theological principle of forgiveness has been embraced in the political platforms as a way of ensuring reconciliation. The catholic and the Methodist churches have proposed forgiveness as a way of achieving a conflict free society among the indigenous people. The churches mentioned have also accommodated a large number of people with whom they have connected the secular politics. Forgiveness and truth values have been essential in increasing such reconciliation attempts in Australia. The theological principles have helped in reconciliation since they teach the virtues of forgiveness and truthfulness at individual levels. These values help in shaping individual behaviours towards conflict resolution (Catsam 2009; 12). Such attempts by the Christians have increased the ease of conflict resolution among the indigenous Australians. The two churches have had a large capacity of the indigenous Australians as part of their congregation.
The land rights were some of the issues affecting the indigenous Australians as part of their political instability matters. The religious practices through their actions have facilitated the involvement of positive actions towards behaviour of people. The Christians got involvement in the land rights issue through the adoption of the apology principle. The principle suggests different ways of creating peace between people with different interest within a society. The Christians got involved in the issue of land rights by bring a connection between the religious responsibilities and the political space (Doak 2004; 55). The secular political choices became an issue of attention to the Christian leaders. The policy making processes were influenced by Christian decisions within Australia. Such factors have been considered for the success of free conflict relationships as a way of achieving success in Australian reconciliation.
The reconciliation ministries are also methods that have been applied by the Christian fraternity in reconciling the incidences of conflict. According to this approach the religious groups have followed the gospel preaching principles in disseminating the knowledge of respect and understanding. The reconciliation ministries have proclaimed the gospel as a way of bringing together the destroyed relationships by conflicts and other misunderstandings. The principles of equality and peacemaking among people have been applied under this context as a way of increasing the access towards positive lifestyles among people (Garretson 2012; 78). The theological principles have facilitated positive coexistence among the people within Australia through shared understanding. The ministry has used the public theology approach to provide education based on healthy relationships among people. The political sector has recognized the efforts placed by the churches and the Christian fraternity in increasing positive relationships among people.
The rising concerns for the Christian and other religious ethics have facilitated the adoption of the reconciliation in Australia. According to the argument of the Christians in Australia through Pope Emmanuel, the ethical principles of Christianity may necessitate the need to create a just environment for the people. The policies of apologies as formulated by the Christians and other religious groups have applied in the government and political settings as a way of achieving peace creation. The recommendation by the religious sectors has influenced the response of the government and political parties. The principles adopted by the religious sectors have moved the political groups to accept the understanding of reconciliation and peace through a constructive and peaceful way (Welker, Ulrich, and Michael 2011; 11). Public theology has used the principles and ethics of faith to challenge the stands of the political matters. According to the ethical implications of the public theology, the religious aspects must be considered in decision making of all aspects (Kim 2011; 10). Such policies adopted by the religious parties have caused constraints and pushing the adoption of the reconciliation as a central attribute in the political sectors. These aspects have made reconciliation an essential part of the contemporary Australia.
The public theology has also challenged the morals of the indigenous Australians in the current 21st century. The aspirations of the public theology approach are to appeal for positive coexistence. The engagement of the indigenous population of Australia into the religious beliefs has necessitated a reconciliation approach for the government. The positive attributes suggested in the Christian teachings have improved the role of the society in maintaining understanding and peaceful coexistence (Paeth 2008; 76). The exposure of people towards religious approaches has necessitated a change in political institutions. The aspirations to achieve democratic societies have also implied that the government abide by the requirements of the people as a way of achieving development. The development of democracy coupled with religious morals and principles affect the political adoption of reconciliation as a way of achieving understanding. The religious side has also taken a criticism approach towards the formation of policies in the political sectors. The religious sector has gone public in explaining the principles and morals necessary for a contemporary society. These attempts also aim at having reconciliation as a central way of amending the fractured relationships in the political and governmental sectors. These strategies and beliefs adopted through public theology have implied that reconciliation becomes a major way of conflict resolution in the contemporary Australian society.
Lessons Christians Churches Draw From Participation In Reconciliation Debates And Public Theology
The involvement of Christians in public reconciliation and public theology can be a lesson to the Christian churches. They draw several lessons ranging from the moral sense to humanity and personal understanding. One of the lessons drawn from such involvements includes the role of the Christians as the central direction to the political and social sectors (Vigoda-Gadot 2009; 9). The Christian churches can realize that they are the direction to the ways in which the political and social sectors perform their conflict resolution practices (Helmick and Rodney 2001; 24). They are believed to be the central sector that may guide the activities of other externalities. Different parties borrow from their ways of conduct as part of creating unity and understanding among diversified groups.
The Christian churches can also learn that it is their role to bring understanding and unity among the nations and different people. It is their role to put an end to conflict in a more peaceful manner than other strategies. The Christian churches can learn that they have a commission to embrace peace through different mediums and approaches. The reconciliation ministries are some of the evident practices that the Christian churches should draw their attention and concern. According to such ministries, the Christian bodies have developed groups that help in bringing resolution to conflicts in a more significant and peaceful approach (Pritchard 2014; 2). The Christian churches can learn that they need to take actions associated with promoting such ministries. The ways in which Christians view the reconciliation practices is also an essential lesson that may be beneficial for progress in Christian life. Public theology implies that the Christian should view the reconciliation practices as their main role. They are the leaders who should be shaping the conflict resolution approaches towards sustainable levels.
The Christian churches should learn the connection between forgiveness and conflict resolution. The forgiveness aspect may only be seen as a Godly act but can also extent to the external areas such as the political grounds. According to such approaches, Christian churches can easily appreciate the involvement of Christian values towards society development. The forgiveness as a Christian virtue is an essential concept in establishing understanding and peaceful reconciliation among the political and social sectors (Harutyunyan, Kathrin , and Malcolm 2009; 15). The interconnectedness between the Christian values and the secular needs should be approached effectively to create a point of balance between them. According to this perspective, Christians can learn that exercising Godly values such as forgiveness is an essential move in creating peaceful coexistence.
Another lesson that Christian churches can draw from their debates in reconciliation and public theology is that conflict exists in all aspects of the society. The approach can change the ways in which the Christian churches view conflict. Conflict involves a fractured understanding among people and can exist in any sector of the society. According to this view, the Christian churches can always be on the look out to accommodate any form of misunderstandings that may exist among human beings. The Christian churches learn about preparedness concerning any form of misunderstanding that may come up among them or outside the church (Gushee and Glen 2014; 100). The only essential issue to consider under this matter is to find a better way to resolve the conflicts that may arise. The increase in the number of churches and denominations should also alert the Christian churches of the possible differences that may come up in the course of their commission practices as Christians. Solution based focus and embracing of Christian values should be the central focus in managing such issues in the society and churches. From the participation in the public reconciliation debates, the Christian churches can learn on how to effectively solve their problems.
The Christians churches also recognize the image they should show to the society as part of the peace bringing ambassadors. The Christians can understand the roles they play within the political and social sectors in bringing peace among different individuals. The image that such Christian churches ought to relay to the society is an essential factor in facilitating debates and involvement in public theology. According to this lesson, the Christian churches recognize that what they show the society in would affect their contribution towards public reconciliation debates and public theology. The Christian churches also realize that the portrayal of Christian values is a key factor in facilitating positive community response towards public theology (Global Network for Public Theology 2007; 4). Alongside such implications Christian churches can respond to indigenous theology on a personal level. They should understand the circumstances that make people behave in a given manner as well as finding quality Christian responses to such behaviours. The interconnection between the Christian values and secular beliefs towards establishing reconciliation should be an essential practice.
Conclusion
The religious groups have engaged in reconciliation practices by exercising their various beliefs with an effort to bring conflicts to an end. Indigenous theology embraces the recognition of understanding and knowledge of people towards each other as the central cause of conflict. The application of Christian values such as peace, forgiveness, and apology has made reconciliation a major practice within the contemporary Australian society. The Christian churches through their participation in the public reconciliation and public theology can learn lessons that make them the advocators and ambassadors of reconciliation practices in the indigenous environments.

References
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