Review article

Christians and Culture in Croatia

Ivan Supičić ; Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The reality of culture and the notion itself are so complex and broad that it is impossible to talk about them concisely and unambiguously. Especially if they are taken in their integral and holistic sense, i.e. as more or less the conscious, rational forming of lifestyles of nations, groups of individuals and individuals, and thus as a group mentality, psychology and sphere of feelings and experiences, which cannot be omitted from this process of formation. Therefore, the notion of culture also includes, in its broadest sense, the existential and rational as well as spiritual side: it includes the political and economic organization of society as well as art and science, language and literacy and in particular, religion. In this sense, the notion of culture also comprises the notion of civilization, or rather it almost completely corresponds with it.
Nevertheless, culture can be discussed from two different points of view: culture as a product, i.e. its »external« results, artifacts, and objects in all fields of human activities; and culture as civilized behavior, virtuousness, an intellectual and spiritual state of consciousness, as well as growing up and the development of an individual, groups of individuals and nations at these levels.
Restricting ourselves mainly to the subjective and spiritual side of the problem, it should be particularly pointed out that in these areas culture is impossible without humanization. In the Croatian language, this is implied by the suitable word uljudba (civilized behavior). There is no Christian culture in its authentic sense without true humanism in its broadest and deepest universal meaning. Nevertheless, there is no religious culture without humanism, especially nowadays. As a matter of fact, as the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, pointed out »a religion which has not become a culture is a not completely accepted, holistically understood and truly lived religion«. This is so because a genuine religion is only a deep-rooted religion, which has permeated and enriched the entire man, but also a religion which has been permeated and enriched by man's humanity and civilized behavior. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to witness a Christian message in a dignified and convincing manner without this mutual permeation and enrichment.
Issues such as the relationship between religion and culture, particularly the issue of contextualization of religion as well as other issues, which occur within the sociological context and are given so much thought in the Council and other ecclesiastical documents both at the theological and pastoral level, represent only one important aspect of the problem which at the present time requires fresh, subtle and complex approaches and adequate solutions. Primary tasks in this sense are the adequate evangelization of culture and inevitably cultural evangelization.
Within the general context of the history of mankind, the ultimate and greatest task of Christians, and thus also of Christians in Croatia, is keep building in order to create an integrally humanistic civilization and culture: at the social level, it comprises a civilization of love and at personal level, a culture of sanctity.

Keywords

religion; culture; civilization of love; culture of sanctity; evangelization of culture; culture of evangelization

Hrčak ID:

29327

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/29327

Publication date:

24.4.2001.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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