Đurić-Milovanović, Aleksandra (2010) New Religions, Globalization and Multiculturalism: the Case of Romanian Neo-Protestants in Serbia. In: 11th Mediterranean research meeting (24-27 March 2010) organized by Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced studies, 24-27 March 2010, University of Belgrade, European University Institute.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
In contemporary society, religious pluralism presents a range of complex challenges to religious groups and communities. The rise of new religions, in the process of globalization,change existing nation-state relations, creating de-territorialized religious communities. Our assumption is that the different interpretations of multiculturalism are not only topics of theoretical debate, but strongly affect the concrete political processes in society as well as politics of religious diversity. The questions that we are examining in this paper are how small religious communities implement identity policies and how multi culturalists discourse includes certain type of diversity (usually ethnic), while the other excludes (religious). The aim of this paper is to present position of new religions, Neo-Protestants in Serbian Northern Province of Vojvodina, using an interdisciplinary approach in the context of global emergence of evangelical communities such are Pentecostals, but also conservative Protestants such are Nazarenes. The research is also based on fieldwork with marginalized and, in the public discourse, often stigmatized religious groups, such are Nazarenes, Seventh day Adventists,Pentecostals, Jehovah Witnesses or Baptists, which offers the possibility of applying themethodology of contemporary anthropology and anthropological linguistics, in aninterdisciplinary approach. In the province of Vojvodina, the majority of Romanians are Orthodox, but during the last century various neo-Protestant denominations have largely spread. Differing from large confessions, which are usually connected with nations, small religious communities often give more importance to the religious identity, while national belonging is less important for them. Examining the correlation between national and religious identity, we are also interested in social status of neo-Protestants, which are not recognized by the Serbian law. At the moment, there are over 80 religious groups in Serbia, of which only seven are officially recognized traditional religions, while the majority of the other“small religious groups” are of Protestant origin. Using non traditional religious groups among national minorities this article turns its attention to the position of small and minority religions, the issue of what are called double minorities, as well as hidden minorities. Since one of the essential issues of multi-culturalism is the issue of difference, multi-cultural and multi-confessional communities and their heritage represent an important part in the process of preserving cultural and religious pluralism in Serbia. Researching and representing in the adequate way different religions in present day Serbia, will significantly contribute for better understanding of “the other” specially religious and ethnic minority position. Also research results will contribute to more detailed religious picture in this part of the Balkans, new 11th MRM Meeting – 24-27 March 20101/21 religions and in public discourse encourage tolerance and eliminating discrimination of different religious communities in one pluralistic and transitional society. This research also includes the experience of minorities in welfare systems historically influenced by majority religious institutions (in this case The Romanian Orthodox Church). We will also problematize whether minorities are perceived to challenge the values, cultural identities, etc.of the local majorities, and whether there are detectable differences between Neo-Protestant communities and other minority groups relaying on the concept of hidden and double minorities. We would like to discus questions such are: how do multiculturalism and religious diversity relate to the reformulations of civil society, as well as how religious minorities can participate in society being more visible for majority.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Balkan Studies Contemporary Christianity New Religions Ethnography of Balkans Anthropology of Religion |
| Subjects: | D World Christianity and Central Eastern Europe > Europe G Christian traditions/Denominations > Pentecostal H Social research and religion in Central Eastern Europe |
| Divisions: | Balkan countries > Serbia |
| Depositing User: | Users 1 not found. |
| Date Deposited: | 20 May 2019 09:54 |
| Last Modified: | 20 May 2019 09:54 |
| URI: | https://ceeamsprints.osims.org/id/eprint/1586 |
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