This article examines a cleavage inside the Catholic Church in Poland between the followers of "open" and "closed" Catholicism. Drawing upon empirical research of "Radio Maryja" and Dominican Order activists, the author uses Pierre Bourdieu's concepts to show that this cleavage is rooted in social ("class") distinctions. "Open" Catholics have better education; "closed" Catholics are usually older people with elementary education. Yet these distinctions do not affect the capability of people to adapt themselves to new economic realities. Author refutes the existing myth that "closed" Catholics are passive, lacking dynamism, and relying blindly upon old patterns of behavior. Both groups show similar religious attitudes, and the difference is more about the style of their Christian faith, rather than its content. "Open" Catholics are more reflective; "closed" - more emotional. Finally, the difference is a matter of taste and aesthetical preferences, more than anything else.
Keywords: "Radio Maryja", Catholicism, Poland, liberalism, Pierre Bourdieu.
RELIGIOUS pluralism in Poland is seen by many as an oxymoron. Indeed, in a country where 95% of the population considers themselves Catholics1, there seems to be little room for pluralism. However, in addition to the still existing religious minorities and non-believers, the number of
1. Boguszewski, R. (red.) (2009) Wiara i religijność Polaków dwadzieścia lat po rozpoczęciu przemian ustrojowych. Komunikat z badań. BS/34/2009. Warszawa.
K. Sekerdey is a matter of taste. On one division within the Roman Catholic community in Poland / / State, Religion, Church in Russia and abroad. 2016. N 3. pp. 79-94.
Sekerdei, Kinga (2016) "A Matter of Taste. On a Certain Division within the Roman Catholic Community in Poland", Gosudarstvo, religiia, tserkov' v Rossii i za rubezhom 34(3): 79-94.
page 79It is difficult to determine whether there is still a question of internal pluralism within the Catholic Church. From a certain point of vie ...
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