Published: 2019-02-11

Ecumenism in the opinions and attitudes of Christians in Bydgoszcz. Sociological study

Justyna Weber
Studia Oecumenica
Section: Articles
DOI https://doi.org/10.25167/SOe/18/2018/103-130

Abstract

Sociologists often deal with issues such as religion, spirituality, Church institutions’ functioning and theirs relationships with social environment or religious based conflicts. There are specific disciplins (e.g. sociology of religion, sociology of Church, sociology of parish), which are specialized in research, trends examining and creating concepts and theories within this spheres of social life. However, the issue of interconfessional relationships, which are focused on cooperation and unity, is taken by sociologists relatively seldom. In the article I try to reply on this deficiency by presenting the problem of ecumenism from sociological perspective. Based on own research, I discuss following issues: declarative Christians’ attitude to ecumenism, their personal commitment in ecumenical movement, knowledge about ecumenism, respondents’ opinions on ecumenical institutions (e.g. The World Council of Churches) and on ecumenical commitment of their own confessional groups. The main conclusions concern discrepancies between declarations of positive attitude
to idea of ecumenism and low level of knowledge and personal activity in this field. The article – besides attempt of showing ‘ecumenical situation’ among secular Christians – try to invite for the debate on justification of dealing with ‘ecumenism issue’ by sociologists.

Keywords:

sociology of religion, ecumenism, Christian unity, interdenominational relationships

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Weber, J. (2019). Ecumenism in the opinions and attitudes of Christians in Bydgoszcz. Sociological study. Studia Oecumenica, 18, 103–130. https://doi.org/10.25167/SOe/18/2018/103-130

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