Paper short abstract:

Societies need a new vision to overcome all the trauma consequences. A new vision means first understanding the entire region as wounded and the role of religion in it as a factor in providing security. Second, to revitalize the traditional visions of forgiveness, mercy, justice, and peace.

Paper long abstract:

Having seen the CEE region through the lens of a wounded collective identity, and in which the role of religion in society has been assessed primarily in terms of security, we must turn our attention to the most important issue for the region. What is the vision for the region's societies thirty years after the collapse of communism? A new vision is needed. Indeed, a number of facts and events suggest that the path of individual and collective freedom has led to a maze. In many ways, we have been disappointed by what we set out to achieve, not least in the wake of the 'expected West' (Bottoni 2017).

A new vision is needed in this region, as it is throughout Europe and on other continents of the Globe. In a region with a wounded collective identity, a new vision can only respond first and foremost to trauma, one that removes the distrust and threats that can be traced back to trauma and continue to hinder human and community prosperity, the real prioritization of the common good. In the face of a culture of fear, vengeance, and egoism, a culture of mercy is the appropriate and suitable vision. All the historical traditions, entrenched phobic reflexes, and ethno-narcissistic policies that are understandably but predominantly present in the region can only be countered by an approach centered on mercy: rebuilding trust through understanding and forgiveness. A new way of thinking is needed, which also requires opening up to new cultural resources. The modernization paradigm has reached its limits; the postmodern position enjoys welfare inertia without concern for relations of injustice. The culture of mercy draws on the noblest cultural traditions of humanity to vote confidence in man and community.