SEARCH FOR RESONANCE: THE LATVIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH'S QUEST FOR RELEVANCE AND RESONANCE AMIDST THE COMPLEXITIES OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETAL DISCOURSE

This investigation examines the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church's role in Latvia's political debates, uncovering diverse opinions within the church on its public policy influence. Despite some members' active opposition and others' reluctance to engage in polarizing topics, the church steadfastly positions itself as a moral arbiter in society. Applying Hartmut Rosa's theories on public discourse and resonance, the study proposes the church as a place for deep, meaningful engagement with faith and society, where resonant experiences can foster individual and community well-being. Analysis of interviews illustrates the church's struggle to maintain its values in a modern, secular world, with individual and institutional beliefs sometimes at odds, highlighting its quest for relevance and resonance amidst the complexities of contemporary societal discourse.