Overview

No Church is monolithic—this is the preliminary premise of this volume on the public place of religion in a representative number of post-communist countries. The studies confirm that within any religious organization we can expect to find fissures, factions, theological or ideological quarrels, and perhaps even competing interest groups, such as missionary workers, regular clergy versus secular clergy, and sometimes even competing ecclesiastical hierarchies. The main focus of the book rests on the divisions arising within select Christian Churches, as they confront the processes of secularization and atheization. The coverage area includes Russia and the Ukraine, East-Central Europe and South-Eastern Europe. Some chapters focus on individual clergy who challenge the mainstream of their given Church either from a more liberal or from a more conservative perspective, while others deal with the divisive forces impacting the religious organizations. This festschrift to honor Sabrina Ramet’s seminal contribution to the study of religion in the politics of the communist and post-communist world, brings together several generations of scholars from a variety of countries, both those well established in their fields of study as well as young promising academics.

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9789633864579

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Reviews

""Sabrina P. Ramet has made a unique contribution to the study of Eastern European Politics and Societies. This edited book, with a wonderful range of thought-provoking and original contributions on religion, is a fitting tribute to her."" --Cathie Carmichael ""This book offers a compelling exploration of the diverse religious landscape in Eastern Europe since 1980. With rich historical context and engaging analysis, the book illuminates the role of churches in shaping cultural and political identities. A must-read for anyone interested in the interplay of religion and society in this transformative era. It is fitting that this volume serves as a Festschrift for Sabrina P. Ramet due to her significant contributions to the academic community in the fields of history, politics, and culture of Eastern Europe."" --Vladimir Filipovic ""The book offers a historical insight into the role of the Christian churches in late so-cialism, during the transition and today. The title aptly refers to mavericks--rebellious, unconventional people who push boundaries in society and also within the churches. During communism, they did this either out of passionate anti-communism and self-interest in their own institution or out of a commitment to human rights, religious freedom, and peace. Sabrina Petra Ramet, to whom the book is dedicated, was herself often a 'scientific maverick' when researching the history of Southeast Europe. In one study, she states that the communist regimes have failed, as religiosity in most Eastern European countries is much higher today than it was during the communist era. The book, which gives a good picture of the situation of religion and the churches in SEE, therefore raises the very topical question of who are the rebels today within the privileged ecclesiastical institutions that claim the right to moral and legal authority."" --Bozo Repe

Author Information

Frank Cibulka is Associate Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi. Zachary T. Irwin is Associate Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Behrend College, Pennsylvania State University.

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