Cristian Sonea und Paul Siladi: A Secular Orthodoxy? Exploring the Religious Landscape of Romania

The lecture critically examines the complex phenomenon of secularisation within Orthodox communities in Romania, reassessing prevailing narratives of religious decline or revival. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from theology, sociology, and history, the lecture investigates both external expressions—such as public religious symbolism, state funding, and church construction—and internal dynamics, including ritualism and spiritual disengagement. It reveals the paradoxical coexistence of overt religiosity and underlying secular tendencies, addressing phenomena like nationalist religiosity, compensatory practices, and the Church’s secular legitimization. The lecture argues that Romanian secularisation is not a mere import of Western paradigms and proposes a renewed eschatological and liturgical orientation as a way for Orthodox communities to engage with modernity while preserving their spiritual integrity. Presenters: Professor Cristian Sonea & Professor Paul Siladi (Babes-Bolyai-Universität Cluj-Napoca) Weniger lesen