The Christian-Marxist dialogue as reflected in the thought of Josef L. Hromàdka and Roger Garaudy.

Abstract

The scope of this paper is limited to an examination of the two approaches to the Christian-Marxist dialogue proposed by Roger Garaudy and Josef L. Hromadka. The first two chapters are strictly the presentations of the men's respective positions. No attempt will be indeed to criticize either man's viewpoint in these first chapters. The third chapter is first, a criticism of each approach separately and secondly, a comparison of the two views. The final chapter includes a brief survey of the immediate history of the dialogue, the present situation of the dialogue, and a concluding statement. Research was limited to worlds available in the United States. Works available in German as well as English were utilized with regard to both Garaudy and Hrom1ldka. The works referred to in Chapters I and 2 are by the respective authors except when need for another source was indicated. The final chapter is not intended to be a comprehensive survey of the dialogue but is rather an attempt to communicate in brief form the extent of the dialogue. No attempt was made to form any judgment of r,Marxist theory or Christian for the aside from those Gpects presented by the authors, except as noted in Chapter 4. It is well for the reader to keep in mind some basic definitions with rega.rd to various tenns of Marxism. 'Marxism refers to the theory or philosophical system. Socialism refers to the political reality of the Eastern political situz.tion at present. It is however, sometimes referred to by Har..dsts in a utopian manner, thus taking on the aspects of the term communism which is regarded as the ultimate in human relationships, the classless society.