Totalitarianism and hostility as anthropological and spiritual wounds : deconstructing hatred in our time

Platovnjak, Ivan (author), Svetelj, Tone (author)

This article argues that hatred, as seen in totalitarian regimes and contemporary social fragmentation, is a profound anthropological and spiritual wound. Drawing on the works of Hannah Arendt and Simone Weil, this exploration examines how dehumanization, ideological illusion, and thoughtlessness erode moral responsibility and contribute to systemic evil. Arendt highlights the collapse of judgment in totalitarianism; Weil examines how force, illusion, and spiritual disconnection nourish hatred. In response, the article proposes Christian spirituality as a transformative path: not a private refuge but a source of critical awareness, inner freedom, and social responsibility. Through spiritual discernment and solidarity, individuals can resist hatred and rebuild fraternity. This interdisciplinary dialogue between political philosophy and spirituality provides a holistic framework for addressing hostility and fostering peace.

• Language: English
• Keywords: hatred, peace, spirituality, Christianity
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 29.12.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 861-873
• Numbering: Letn. 85, [št.] 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177677
• UDC: 179.8:321.64
• ISSN on article: 0006-5722
• DOI: 10.34291/BV2025/04/Platovnjak
• COBISS.SI-ID: 263024387
• Publication date in RUL: 31.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovni vestnik
• Shortened title: Bogosl. vestn.
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 0006-5722
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8745472

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Totalitarizem in sovražnost kot antropološka in duhovna rana : dekonstrukcija sovraštva v našem času

Abstract

Članek zagovarja tezo, da je sovraštvo, kakršno vidimo v totalitarnih režimih in sodobni družbeni razklanosti, globoka antropološka in duhovna rana. Na podlagi del filozofinj Hannah Arendt in Simone Weil se preučuje, kako razčlovečenje, ideološka iluzija in brezmiselnost spodkopavajo moralno odgovornost ter prispevajo k sistemskemu zlu. Arendtova poudarja propad presoje v totalitarizmu, Weilova pa, kako sila, iluzija in duhovna odtujenost hranijo sovraštvo. V odgovor članek predlaga krščansko duhovnost kot preobrazbeno pot: ne kot zasebno zatočišče, temveč kot vir kritične zavesti, notranje svobode in družbene odgovornosti. Skozi duhovno razločevanje in solidarnost lahko posamezniki nasprotujejo sovraštvu in ponovno gradijo bratstvo. Ta interdisciplinarni dialog med politično filozofijo in duhovnostjo ponuja celovit okvir za spopadanje s sovražnostjo in spodbujanje miru.

• Keywords: sovraštvo, mir, duhovnost, krščanstvo