Bargár, Pavol (2019) Learning about Spirituality Together with “Seekers”; Reading Together towards Life in the Czech Postsecular Context. International Review of Mission, 108 (2). pp. 326-336. ISSN 1758-6631
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The present era, often referred to as post-secular, has in many places seen a resurgence in spirituality. Nevertheless, the contemporary quest for spirituality is unique in the sense that many people do not expect to have their spiritual needs fulfilled within the structures of organized religion, starting on a journey of their own explorations instead. Sociologists of religion, therefore, tend to employ the “dwellers” and “seekers” paradigm to account for this phenomenon. This paper will explore this phenomenon in the context of the Czech Republic, whose citizens are frequently characterized as distrustful toward institutional religiosity, through the lens of the recent World Council of Churches' affirmation on mission and evangelism, Together towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes (TTL). For our purpose, the statement's emphasis on both “transformative spirituality” and “mission from the margins” will be of central importance. Using the notion of transformative spirituality as the energy engendered by the Spirit for the transformation of life and creation, it will be suggested that “seekers” can be agents in God's mission of liberation, reconciliation, and transformation, despite their inability or unwillingness to identify themselves with the church as institution. Keeping in mind ethical considerations, the paper will not seek to make a case for a forced “christening” of the seekers. Rather, it will argue that they can become partners in missio Dei, thus giving the notion of “mission from the margins” a new, contextually relevant dimension.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Together Towards Life, Transformative Spirituality |
| Subjects: | B Mission theology/theory B Mission theology/theory > Spirituality B Mission theology/theory > Missio Dei B Mission theology/theory > Evangelism/Proclamation of Gospel B Mission theology/theory > Contextualization/Inculturation C Types of Christian Ministry > Discipleship D World Christianity and Central Eastern Europe > Europe G Christian traditions/Denominations > Evangelical |
| Divisions: | Central Europe Central Europe > Czech Republic |
| Depositing User: | Speranca Tomin |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jan 2022 16:09 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Jan 2022 16:50 |
| URI: | https://ceeamsprints.osims.org/id/eprint/2423 |
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