Religia w postkomunistycznym społeczeństwie na Litwie: miejsce, zmiany i formy funkcjonowania
Religion in post-communist society in Lithuania: its place, change and forms of functioning

Summary/Abstract: The article analyzes the place, change and variety of forms of manifestation of religion in the post -communist society of Lithuania. The three level – micro, mezzo and macro – of analytical perspective is invoked. Religious variety, legal conditions for freedom of religion and development of Church -State relations are discussed. Particular attention in the analysis is focused on religious minorities (new religions among them) and society’s attitudes towards these social groups. For this analysis the data of surveys (1990 -2005 European Value Survey, 2007 Research of Discrimination on the Ground of Religion and Beliefs, 2007 Inquest of Lithuanian Population about Religious Movements) is invoked. The author argues that main and influential agent in religious life of society of Lithuania is Roman Catholic Church. This argument is followed by other arguments that such status of Roman Catholic Church – maintained by society and supported by the State – affects the situation of other religious communities and society’s attitudes towards them, i.e. increases the possibilities for intolerance and discrimination of their believers.

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