Expanding Religion: Religious Revival in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe

Description

In sharp contrast to Western developments post-communist Europe experienced a spectacular religious revival after 1989. Previously marginalized believers and churches became accepted and active participants of social life. Several successive surveys of three international projects studied religious revival and variations of religiosity, the social image of religious people and their specific private and public behaviour in the period between 1991 and 2008. The present volume is the first ever cross-national and cross-denominational comparative analysis of these results. Acknowledgments Table of Contents 1. Does religion in Eastern and Central Europe matter? The religious situation in Eastern and Central Europe - to whom is it important? Religious growth - the two sides of the coin What do we mean when we talk about religion, being religious? - The religious system What are our sources of information concerning religiosity and churches in Eastern and Central Europe? 2. Public opinion on religion and the churches Notions of religion and religious people Public opinion on the churches 3. Revival? Crisis? Metamorphosis? - Versions of religious change What do people think of religious change? Ideological identity - Do people consider themselves to be religious? Faith and beliefs Belief in God Images of God Belief in Jesus and other beliefs Traditional church belief and folk beliefs Religious or believer? Conclusion: Pluralism of beliefs Religious worship - the act of turning towards the sacred Celebrations of turning points in life Church attendance Prayer Religious objects Folk and heterodox religious practices Conclusion: The permanence of worship The hidden dimension of religion: experiences and emotions 4. A role of religion in the organization of life The meaning of life Who are satisfied and happy? Religion and morality Human relations Family and child Endorsement of the family Option for children Male and female roles Responsibility for the elderly Social commitments Religion, politics, public affairs Work ethics Religion and nation 5. Assortments of religion Religion in the succession of generations Religiosity in the structure of society Denominations Case study 1: Latvia Case study 2: Czech Republic Case study 3: Slovakia Case study 4: Hungary Spatial structure, geographical distribution 6. The prospects for religious development Bibliography Index of Names