Catholic Spirit as Seeking the Common Good in Myanmar

Master's Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject Theology - Systematic Theology, grade: 2.1, Newman University (The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education), course: MA, language: English, abstract: This research is about the relationship between the Catholic spirit and the common good and how the love for God and neighbours, the core of the Catholic spirit, becomes the key to seeking the common good of society in Myanmar. It is based on John Wesley's sermon on the Catholic spirit in the 18th century. It analyses the background and the concept of the 'Catholic spirit' and then links the concept with the common good idea in the modern Catholic Social Teaching. The Catholic theological method is used, instead of the pluralistic method or traditional fundamental method, as it is an inclusive way of doing theology by acknowledging the work of God both within and without the church while being faithful to a particular denomination and the core of Christian belief. It suggests two implications: Catholic spirit as seeking Christian solidarity and as seeking the common good, suggesting how the Chin Christian churches should take challenging steps towards solidarity among themselves and how to seek the common good of the wider society in Myanmar. The churches are expected and challenged to be more united as the beloved children of God and thus to engage more in the socio-political sphere of Myanmar. The research argues that catholic spirit with the universal love of God at its bottom-line is the driving force that enables the believers to love and serve all humans for the common good of human society regardless of differences in opinion, denomination, religion or race.