Fifth “Unicath Dialogues” Theological Forum Held at the Catholic University of Croatia

On Wednesday, 29 April 2026, the fifth theological forum in the Unicath Dialogues series was held at the Catholic University of Croatia. The discussion, titled “Challenges of Christianity in the 21st Century,” featured Prof. Željko Tanjić, PhD, Rector of the University, and Matija Štahan, literary critic, essayist, and publicist.

The moderator, Assist. Prof. Odilon-Gbènoukpo Singbo, PhD, opened the session by introducing the speakers and the concept of the forum. In his lecture, Rector Tanjić offered a profound theological reflection on the concept of the future, drawing on the thought of Karl Rahner. He emphasized that the future cannot be understood as a mere continuation of the present or as the completion of existing plans. Rather, the future is something that comes to us—unplanned, non-evolutionary, and beyond human control. In this perspective, Christians are called to approach the future with trust and hope, grounded in what he described as the “absolute future.”

Tanjić highlighted that faith and the future are intrinsically linked—faith is not something that has a future, but rather is the future. Christianity, he noted, has always existed within an apocalyptic horizon shaped by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He also addressed the historical development of Christian thought, its relationship with political authority, and the enduring tension between doctrine (orthodoxia) and lived practice (orthopraxis). A key challenge for Christianity today, he concluded, lies in rediscovering spirituality as the foundation of service, marked by love, mercy, and authentic witness.

Following this theological reflection, Matija Štahan analysed contemporary threats to Christianity, grouping them into three domains: political, spiritual, and technological. In the political sphere, he pointed to the resurgence and transformation of political theology in a post-Christian and post-secular world. He cited examples such as Israel, Iran, the United States, and Russia, where religious narratives are increasingly used to legitimise geopolitical actions.

In the spiritual domain, Štahan identified a “crisis of unbelief” alongside the rise of new forms of paganism and alternative spiritualities, particularly among younger generations. He argued that these trends challenge the Christian understanding of the human person and introduce relativised conceptions of the relationship between الإنسان and God.

The technological dimension, according to Štahan, is most visible in transhumanism—the attempt to transcend human nature through technology. He suggested that the Book of Genesis offers a fundamental critique of such aspirations, particularly regarding the rejection of biological and ontological limits.

In his conclusion, Štahan connected these three threats through shared elements such as utopian visions, dehumanisation, and the pursuit of a “new human being,” warning of parallels with totalitarian ideologies. He argued that Christianity remains a crucial counterbalance to these tendencies.

The forum continued with interventions by students and pupils, including Roko Kasal, Tomislav Vuković, and Jakov Faletar, who raised questions about evangelisation among youth, the relationship between Church and politics, unity, and contemporary expressions of faith.

At the close of the final forum in this academic year, organiser Dr Kristina Vujica expressed gratitude to the speakers, moderators, University leadership, and participants. She emphasised the importance of the University as a space for dialogue, questioning, and shared reflection—describing it as a place that fosters intellectual openness and spiritual attentiveness.