The Challenge of New Religiosity
The Challenge of New Religiosity

Author(s): Mijo Nikić, Marko Jurčić
Subject(s): Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: new religiosity; sects; religious dependence; church; society
Summary/Abstract: The new religious movements are community of believers who have separated themselves from their already existing large religious communities and continue their own way by creating new beliefs for themselves. Unlike the movement, these followers are better organized and have a firmer internal hierarchical structure. The slogans often radically interrupt all ties with the larger religious community they used to belong. New religious movements and religious sects represent a great challenge for society and the church, and we cannot remain indifferent towards them. This phenomenon is a double challenge for us: on the one hand, it causes us to seriously reconsider ourselves, our faith which has perhaps lost the power of yeast, which for many is no longer the salt of the earth and the light of the world. If that is not the case, then it is no wonder that new religious movements are successful because they offer exactly what true Christians should be. Another challenge is the need to critically examine new religious movements and religious sects and discover obvious or, as is often the case, hidden pitfalls and dangers in the form of new addictions that lie in them. New religiosity mostly gives preference to emotions over reason and relativises what is absolute, and it absolutizes what is relative. The followers largely nurture the fundamental, uncritical interpretation of the Bible. The Church and the state must defend the youth and protect them from destructive sects and new religious movements that manipulate them. Sects that serve the methods that endanger the mental integrity of a person or encourage young people to some criminal offenses must be prevented and sanctioned.

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