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Religion and the Media: the logic of religious competition

An analysis of articles on sects and new religious movements that appeared in the political and Orthodox religious press in Romania during the period 1990-2003 reveals a tendency to denigrate and combat the new religious movements. This is, in part, an instinctive, self-defence reaction by the Orthodox Church, unprepared for the proselytism of new religious movements and for religious pluralism and wanting to protect the Orthodox faith from sectarian influences. This clearly shows how difficult it is for the Orthodox Church to accept competition in the religious marketplace.
In addition, studying the development of the radio and television networks of religious organisations after the 1992 Broadcasting Act shows that from 2001 there has been stiff competition between the various religious organisations that have understood the important role that means of mass communication can play in terms of proselyte activity. Radio broadcasting licences for the Orthodox Church made up only 40% of all licenses approved until 2007 (for a population of which 86% said they belonged to the Romanian Orthodox Church), while the neo-Protestant churches held 55% of radio licences (the percentage of followers of the neo-Protestant Churches not exceeding 3% of the population). The development of networks of religious radio stations after 1990 thus constitutes an important factor in the increase of a competitive system inherent to the process of religious pluralism. However, despite a growing religious offering, its effects remain marginal, as the segment of the population attracted by new religious offerings does not exceed 1% of the country’s population.

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D 2 October 2012    ALaurenţiu Tănase

CNRS Unistra Dres Gsrl

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