REFLEXION OF RELIGIOSITY IN SLOVAKIA AND SOME NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

Effectivity of this research is based on social and pastoral work and the reflection of values and life-style changes in the society. This paper analyses the religiosity in Slovakia and neighbour countries based on the “Aufbruch” survey done at the University of Vienna. Research measures religiosity of people in 14 countries. Values of religiosity are divided into three dimensions, namely personal religiosity, contents of faith and relationship with the Church. In the paper, we compare some chosen values from the research in the year 1997 and 2007. Based on the survey results, it is possible to create three groups of people with different religiosity status: orthodox-religious, cultural-religious and seculars. The chapter “Short historical excurse” continues with analysis of some historical facts in the Slovak society after the political changes in 1989 and their influence at the religiosity. The development of Slovak society and the Catholic Church in Slovakia is described by following periods of personal development: childhood, puberty, teenager and post-teenager period. The last part of the paper concludes some opportunities for pastoral theology to work with actual topics in the “adult time” of society and the Church. The most important result tends to be the necessity for Church to be a strong discussion partner in the Europa-values discussion, and the wish to remain the “Agency of hope” also for people who do not see themselves as members of any religion.