Identity Strategies: Contemporary Culture and Religiosity

Research and interpretations of new religious practices and forms that have appeared along with the process of religion revival at the end of the 20th century. This process influenced wider Euro-American Christian civilization, while its diverse expression depended largely on different cultural-geographic areas and their respective differences in local cultural heritage. One of the significant features of the religion revival was an adjustment of religious thoughts and behaviors to the modern way of life and current historical and political events. This process was especially dramatic in region of former Yu. After many decades living in state which promoted atheism as official ideology, constitutive countries have experienced a sort of nationalistic arousing ideas. These new national identities, were based on religious affiliation, which has thus served as an important framework for reconstruction of historical and cultural heritage. This is the case of Serbia too. Even though the majority of population at present declares as Orthodox the questions regarding the form and content of religiosity remain open, due to the fact that the religious affiliation appears more as a parameter of ethnicity, than actual religiosity. The aim and anticipated results of this project are in studies which will analyze and scrutinize these parameters. These will be accomplished through research about possible influences of religious ideas on behaviors of individuals and social groups