Original scientific paper
NEW SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS AND OTHER SPIRITUAL TENDENCIES - A RESPONSE TO THE CONTEMPORARY CRISIS OF FAITH
Milan Špehar
; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The contemporary crisis of faith is closely linked to a crisis of authority, and to a positive endeavor for a personal experience of faith. In order to remain positive and edifying for the community of faithful, this experience should develop within the community itself. In the opposite case, the personal experience is replaced with subjectivity, elitism and isolation from the community. The parish is the nucleus of the Catholic Church; there the encounter with Christ
happens, as well as the interpersonal encounters in the life of the community. Groups of faithful, living together a particular charisma, help a classic parish in her revival. But every micro-community and every charismatic movement in the Church has to be aware that the whole Church is one movement, and that every parish is a charismatic parish, hence there can be no communities developing a charisma outside the parishes. The problems of isolation and elitism occur in this context; the isolation of a group from the Sunday Eucharistic celebration is the most important issue, since, according to our popes, the Eucharist is the core of the community and communion.
The key to the solution of the problematic relationship among the parish and the charismatic community/movement is a mutual service in the divergence of charismas. Unfortunately, this has not happened yet, but we are on our way, not denying the long-lasting problems. Beside the movements, there are different so-called charismatic phenomena, as glossolalia, baptism in the spirit, “slain in the spirit” phenomena, “messages”, “therapies”, miracles, with too many magic and esoteric elements. The need for such experiences lessens with a deeper experience of the word of God, and sacramental life. Moreover, these “phenomena” are often an impediment for a healthy ecumenism.
Keywords
spiritual movements; spiritual phenomena and tendencies; parish; Church; isolation; elitism; charismas; service
Hrčak ID:
118848
URI
Publication date:
27.7.2013.
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