“Georgian Theologians Abroad” congratulates Mr. Shota Kintsurashvili on the successful defense of his doctoral dissertation in field of Christian Social Ethics at the Faculty of Theology of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU München), for which he was awarded the highest distinction, Magna cum laude.
The title of the dissertation is: “In Search of an Orthodox Social Ethics Using the Example of Georgia: A Comparative Theological and Sociological Analysis” (Auf der Suche nach einer orthodoxen Sozialethik am Beispiel Georgiens: Eine vergleichende theologische und soziologische Analyse).
From the perspective of Public Theology (Öffentliche Theologie), the dissertation examines the socio-ethical responses of the Orthodox Church of Georgia to some of the most pressing challenges facing the country, including war, social injustice, poverty, migration, drug addiction and other forms of dependency, demographic changes, unemployment, challenges confronting families and youth, as well as the broader processes of social, economic, and political development in contemporary Georgia.
Particular attention is given to the Church’s social teaching, public positions, and practical charitable and diaconal activities. The dissertation analyzes how the Church responds to the challenges of modern society and explores the role it can play in promoting social justice, solidarity, human dignity, and the common good.
Furthermore, the study investigates the possibilities for developing an independent and systematic Orthodox social ethic within the Georgian context, as well as the prospects for expanding the Church’s social and diaconal engagement amid ongoing social transformation.
Upon the recommendation of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the dissertation will be published in German and subsequently in Georgian and English, enabling both the Georgian and international academic communities to engage with the findings of this important research.
We congratulate Dr. Shota Kintsurashvili on this significant academic achievement and wish him continued success in his scholarly and educational endeavors.