Review article

FAITH AND DISBELIEF TODAY

Ivan Devčić ; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

The author analyzes the problem of God from the standpoints of those who believe, and of those who claim to be atheists. Although the statistics suggest that “God is back”, the author thinks that the actual role of religion in the society does not confirm this, for the contemporary religion according to the number of declared faithful, should have a more important role in the society. This type of faith remains in the sphere of private life, not capable of giving a comprehensive interpretation of the world and far from being a cultural factor. Contemporary disbelief is likewise a very complex reality, often lacking in clear distinction between agnosticism and atheism, but also in zeal, that was characteristic of the classic atheism. There are people that explicitly deny being faithful, but refuse to define themselves as atheists or agnostics. This indicates an insecurity and confusion of the contemporary faith as well as of the contemporary disbelief. New evangelization should establish an honest dialogue between the faithful and the unfaithful, helping the faithful to establish a harmonious integration of the personal religious experience with the experiences offered by science and everyday life.

Keywords

God; faith; disbelief; religion; atheism; indifferentism

Hrčak ID:

118850

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/118850

Publication date:

27.7.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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