Foreigner, Guest, Friend: The Attitude Toward 'Strangers' from a Biblical Perspective

ABSTRACT: The presence of the foreign citizens and of the immigrants from other countries or even from other cultures within society inevitably confronts the Western Christianity to look for an appropriate attitude towards phenomenon like: open opposition toward the foreigners, the subtle behavior of marginalization and the less successful intentions of social integration. Starting from the present situation, the article aims firstly a thematic examination from the perspective of the Old and the New Testament, followed at the end by an ethic–pragmatic approach. At a rational level it is about acknowledging the fact that the Christian religion, real understood, substantially contributes at overcoming the distance against the foreigners. At an emotional level it is discussed the downsizing of superiority feelings concerning the “foreigners,” while the appellative dimension formulates the imperative: “Accept and understand “the foreigner” in order for a peaceful living together to be possible!”

KEY WORDS: foreigner, migration, social integration, attitude, closeness–distance.