V. Ramishvili. Christian Democracy and New Orientation. -Christian Democracy. - Tbilisi: Mecniereba - 1999 - 48-60 pp.
Investigation of relationship of the principles of freedom and equality, as the two ideological-metaphysical positions that defined European democracy and new epoch European history.
Social democracy offered equality to mankind that brought levelling of persons in the society, where the principle of freedom became a mechanism for formation of a "mass man". The life and happiness of such "equal" persons is totally planned and implemented by a state itself. Attempt to build up a society of equality and of full and entire freedom has failed.
Liberal democracy is acknowledged as a lawful successor of Christianity by mistake. Though it offered freedom to mankind it distorted the understanding of the main principles of equality and freedom. It considered them as formal principles of reason, with the help of which a man is intending to form his own personal and social life. It did not notice the inner antinomy of freedom. In the phenomena of freedom it pointed out aspects of arbitrary rule and absolutism. That is why the principles of freedom and equality did not help to reveal the nature of a human being but on the contrary it jeopardized human existence and dignity.
Christian democracy bases understanding of the principles of freedom and equality on relationship of a man with the eternity. In the first place a man is free in his relationship to eternity and people are equal in the face of eternity. Freedom and equality are metaphysical principles of a human existence. Christian democracy considers that the main quality of a personal freedom is self-truncation and finiteness. A man has a feeling of responsibility. Unity of freedom and will must not over-power inner unity of freedom and responsibility in a human being's existence. Irresponsible freedom makes every one's freedom impossible and jeopardizes the possibility of society existence as a worthy and morally wholeness (solidity). Freedom as the means of mutual responsibility units a society.
Christian democracy corresponds to the Georgian outlook and history more and it can give opportunity to the Georgian people to maintain its cultural and national individuality. That is why the conservative renaissance as a new orientation is essential. It is not just a mere repetition of old ideas or views but also permanent recurrence to the origins, new comprehension of the principles of freedom and equality, based on the system of Christian outlook and value. That means permanent revival, reappraisal of one and the same substance and in it we see the genuine essence of conservatism.