The Orthodox Theology of Modernity: Problem Statement and Prospective Tasks

The article studies the problem of Orthodoxy\u27s attitude to modernity. The concept of the theology of modernity–a new section of the social theology of the church, which considers the specifics, main trends, problems, and tendencies of modernity–is proposed. The theology of modernity raises questions about the possibilities, boundaries, and ways of renewal of the church. The concept of the theology of modernity is a set of methods, approaches, and discourses that allow us to comprehend modernity, carry out its assessment by means of Orthodox theology, and find its religious potential for the actualization of Christianity in our time. The analysis of the existing literature revealed that there are two approaches to modernity in Orthodoxy: critical and constructive. The latter develops an open approach to modernity and demonstrates a theological analysis of its problems. This analysis reveals that modern humanity lives in a global information media reality constructed through consumerism, populism, pluralism, and cultural relativism. The modern world is a post-secular world in which the return to religion coincides with the dominance of technologized thinking, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The mission of the Church takes place in the context of globalization in an era of post-truth and total manipulation of consciousness, the dominance of mass information technologies, and within a time of new geopolitical confrontation. The attitude of the Church to modernity has the problem of its modernization and renewal as inseparable components. The structure of the church, its canons and customs, require renewal. The main social aspects of the Church\u27s existence, its relationship with the state, society, culture, law, and economy are subject to rethinking. Church thought will be alive when it learns to creatively use the achievements of modern culture, science, and philosophy, to assimilate and transform them, and to maintain a constant dialogue with modernity