Review article

The Religious Situation in Postmodern Time

Ivan MARKEŠIĆ

Abstract

The author considers the contemporary religious situation in the
West-European environment, with a short reference to Croatian
circumstances. It is indicated that we live in a time in which,
contrary to the earlier safe and unquestionable modernism, the
future of modern humanity seems uncertain and laden with risk.
In order to give a precise definition of the concept of
postmodernism, in the first part of the paper the author presents
the thoughts of numerous authors: S. Knobloch, F.-H. Werner, W.
Welsch, R. Richter, J.-F. Lyotard, and R. Rorty, as well as Z.
Baumann and H.-G. Vester. In the second part we are informed
of the recent social and connected religious changes, of the
correlations of religious and social processes, their mutual
influences, and the viewpoints of D. Sölle, N. Luhmann, J.
Habermas, P.L. Berger, H. Knoblauch, K.J. Kuschel and others. In
the third conclusive part the author indicates a postmodern
religious situation in Europe, especially in Christian communities,
thus quoting the considerations of H.J. Frisch, U. Beck and N.
Elijas. As the consequences of the development of contemporary
society the author indicates the abandonment of the church,
desocialisation, the emergence of a great non-Christian
environment, a much stronger individualisation of faith, a
decrease in the number of clerical professions and therefore a
greater and more active engagement of lay believers in the
Church and society.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

16267

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/16267

Publication date:

30.4.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

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