Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 89 No. 2, 2019.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
The Shifts in Ecclesiality in the Croatian Society from 1999 until 2018. An Analysis and Critical Review
Josip Baloban
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Josip Šimunović
orcid.org/0000-0003-0253-1393
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Josip Ježovita
orcid.org/0000-0003-0165-798X
; Hrvatsko katoličko sveučilište, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The article analyses ecclesiality in pastoral-theological and sociological perspective in the period of last twenty years, i.e., from 1999 until 2017, which corresponds with the three consequent research waves of the international project European Values Study (EVS), i.e., EVS – 1999, EVS – 2008, and EVS – 2017. As a multidimensional reality, the authors analyse shifts in ecclesiality in the Croatian society in its six dimensions: dimension of confessional membership, dimension of religious truths, ritual dimension, moral-ethical dimension, experiential dimension, and dimension of trust in the Church. After the first point in which they point out Methodological Notes, in the second point they are presenting Ecclesiality as a Multidimensional Reality that is not only manifested in numerous dimensions, but also as a reality that is multifaceted. Hence, one can discuss gradual and distanced ecclesiality within a specific dimension, within a number of dimensions together, or even within all dimensions. That reality has been present in the history of humanity from the very beginning of Christianity and the historical Church of Jesus, but in the last few decades it has been confronted with challenges od (neo)liberalisation, individualisation, and relativization, especially in democratic societies, among which also the Croatian society. The third point, An Analysis and Comparison of Results, uses graphs, tables, and socio-demographic characteristics in order to analyse and compare results of all three research waves, EVS – 1999, EVS – 2008, and EVS – 2017, with an emphasis on EVS – 2017. These results confirm that shifts in ecclesiality between 1999 and 2017 are characterised by a certain decrease in various percentages in four dimensions. Furthermore, the largest decrease has been noted in the dimension of trust in the Church, although the nominal membership in the Roman Catholic Church has been stable in the last twenty years. The authors are analysing the shifts in ecclesiality through aforementioned four dimensions in detail in the fourth point, A Critical Review of All Three Waves of Research. Among other things, this point discusses selective Christianity, distanced ecclesiality, selective acceptance of fundamental truths of the Christian creed, growing distancing in moral-ethical dimension of ecclesiality, partial identification with the historical Church of Jesus, etc. The Conclusion shows that one cannot talk about nominal distancing from the Church at the present time, which confirms the first hypothesis. A further distancing in the dimension of religious truths has been noted, which confirms the second hypothesis. The decrease in ecclesiality has also taken place in the ritual dimension, which largely confirms the fourth hypothesis. Indicative results have also been acquired in the moral-ethical dimension. On the one hand, for instance in the last twenty years there has been an increase in those who would not endorse tax evasion and this attitude is approved by 93% of examinees in EVS – 2017. On the other hand, the number of those who approve of divorce, abortion, and euthanasia is increasing, which confirms the fourth hypothesis. The largest decrease of ecclesiality took place in the dimension of trust in the Church, which has been in continuous decrease since 1999 and this confirms the fifth hypothesis. Conclusively, it can be said that the reality of gradual and distanced ecclesiality is becoming more and more obvious in all dimensions of ecclesiality – from the confessional membership to trust in the Church.
Ključne riječi
Church; Croatian society; ecclesiality; dimensions of ecclesiality; distanced ecclesiality; selective Christianity.
Hrčak ID:
223161
URI
Datum izdavanja:
23.7.2019.
Posjeta: 1.811 *