Heinz Eggert: insights into the challenges of Christianity and politics

Heinz Eggert: insights into the challenges of Christianity and politics

After a long summer break, the ecumenical themed evening returned in Neusiedl and offered an exciting discussion about the role of Christianity and politics. The Protestant daughter community Neusiedl am See and the Catholic adult education of the Diocese of Eisenstadt had invited the former Minister of State Saxony, Heinz Eggert. The evening, which was under the motto "Christian and politician - an enormous challenge", was moderated by Di Werner Hermeling.

Both, Eggert and Hermeling, come from the former GDR, and it was Eggert who captivated the audience with his experiences and experiences. He spoke about how the political conditions of the GDR shaped people's lives. "The GDR was a satellite state of the Soviet Union," said Eggert and described the situation in which the population was surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Soviet soldiers. He also reported on the nuclear rockets that were oriented towards the west. Eggert made it clear that the GDR was a dictatorship that was gruesome to people.

The career of Heinz Eggert

Heinz Eggert was born in Rostock in 1946 and grew up in an environment that was politically shaped. He learned a profession at the Reichsbahn, but without political awareness. At the age of 21 he heard the music of the Beatles for the first time, an experience that was revealing for him because it was one of the "class enemies". A key moment of his life was August 21, 1968, when he heard the calls to help from Prague from his place of work. "It became clear to me that socialism, as it was propagated, had nothing to do with humanity," recalled Eggert.

Eggert's desire for change in this repressive system led to it becoming political himself. He had to overcome many hurdles because his church attitude often restricted possible uses. Ultimately, he became a pastor and was involved in the political changes after the turn, most recently as Interior Minister Saxony and district administrator in Zittau.

insight into the injustices

Eggert spoke about the many talented people in the GDR who were disadvantaged due to their beliefs. "These people were often forced to work in professions that did not meet their skills," he said. During his term as a district administrator, he found injustices in education that started at school. He acted immediately by releasing teachers from whom he believed that they were violating the principles of humanity and justice. His principles were clear: "I don't want the despots of yesterday to manage the taxpayers' tax money." According to Eggert, this attitude was a fundamental element of his commitment and provided it about personal career goals.

Heinz Eggert is still active today and volunteers as a death companion in a hospice. His experiences and beliefs not only offer contemporary witness reports, but also valuable findings about how important it is to keep humanity in politics and in life as a whole. The discussion at this topic has stimulated many to think and will certainly leave a lasting impression.