Zachou, Chrysanthi and Kerpachi, Kalie (2011) Religion and Cultural Globalization : Exploring Missionary Evangelical Protestantism In Albania a Post - Communist Society. In: BSA (British Sociological Association) Annual Conference, 07/04/2011. (Unpublished)
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Our recent empirical research in contemporary Albania has confirmed P. Berger’s argument that missionary evangelical Protestantism constitutes one of the four major “faces” of today’s global culture. Albania, the only officially proclaimed atheist state, has substituted religion with a nationalist ideology, known as “Albanianism”. Following the collapse of the communist regime, however, it has experienced a religious revival. Along with the restoration of traditional Muslim and Christian Churches, Protestantism (re)entered the stage as a small but powerful religious force for Albanian youth. Our study was able to identify some particularly appealing culturally globalizing elements in the Protestant beliefs and practices such as: (a)The desire to overcome the former communist isolationism. The bridging out of the local and the world community through religious networking, led to a sui generis escapism through global re-connections. (b)Protestantism’s religious individualism was compatible with the reaction against imposed collectivized forms of social life. (c) The spirit of modernity, expressed in atomised action-orientation and the pluralism of value systems was also appealing. (d) Protestantism’s strategy of indigenization also assisted conversion. (e)The social and economic ramifications of Protestantism’s association with the West (i.e. popular culture, consumer life-styles, and career prospects abroad) generated euphoria, without affecting moral standards. (f) Information society’s technological advancements created a sense of unified reality, not only by assisting global communication among members of communities of faith, but by making possible the adoption of global cultural “frames” implemented through media rituals.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Balkan countries > Albania |
| Depositing User: | Katharina Penner |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Jul 2025 04:11 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Jul 2025 04:11 |
| URI: | https://ceeamsprints.osims.org/id/eprint/3194 |
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