Introduction: Christianity and democracy / Luiz Carlos Susin -- Lessons from a common past / Edouard Hoornaert -- Laos and Koinonia in the Orthodox tradition / Jean-Francois Colosimo -- Early modern Protestant foundations of democracy / John Witte -- Catholic action and the church's new place in society / Agenor Brighenti -- The church: for and against democracy / Gregory Baum -- The crisis of the people of God in biblical times: lessons for today? / Ne?stor O. Mi?guez -- A critique and unmasking of present-day democracies and ways of humanizing them from the biblical-Jesuanic tradition / Jon Sobrino -- Democracy in Africa: challenges for the state and the church / Peter Kanyandao -- Challenges to faith and politics from present-day globalization / Jose? Comblin -- Christianity and global democratic processes / Felix Wilfred -- Documentation: the Fifth General Conference of Latin American Bishops: a challenge to faith and a hermeneutical task / Maria Clara Bingemer -- Remembering Giuseppe Alberigo.