Church and State in Postwar Eastern Europe: A Bibliographical Survey (Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies) [Hardcover]

Paul Mojzes (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 16, 1987 | Series: Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies (Book 11)

This annotated bibliography covers the available literature on the relationship between Soviet and Eastern European churches and the societies in which they have existed since the end of World War II. In order to shed some light on the mutual relations between the churches and society, two survey chapters provide a general orientation. The attitude of the churches toward their society is analyzed first, then the reverse is attempted with a description of the societal attitudes toward the churches. The bibliography proper first presents books and articles dealing with the entire region, the on a country-by-country basis. Because the sources dealing with the Soviet Union are most numerous, they have been broken down into materials dealing with general and inclusive religious policies and issues, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Oriental Apostolic Churches (Georgian and Armenian), the Roman Catholic Church, and the Protestants and sectarians. This bibliography is among the first to deal with the historic and current status of the Christian churches in Eastern Europe.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book contains many texts concerning the life of churches in the socialist states of Eastern Europe. The preface differentiates regional situations in those states. I agree with the total judgment of the compiler that `the vast majority of Christians in Eastern Europe seek a constructive model in the difficult task of operating under socialist conditions'. . . . The churches of the socialist countries have tried to enter into dialogue with Christians of the West on the platform of the ecumenical movement. Mojzes includes some material of the World Council of Churches, but there is far more. There is also the conference of Karlovy Vary, which already has its tradition. Vatican documents from the postwar period would have enhanced the reader's understanding of the Roman Catholic Church in socialist countries. Nevertheless, the Mojzes volume represents an important contribution in this area.”–Journal Ecumenical Studies

“. . .This book, which is generally 'a judicious, balanced survey,' is a signal contribution to that process. It belongs in academic and church libraries, and is a must for scholars studying Eastern Europe and religion in the world today.”–Comptes Rendus

“This handy reference work lists more than 400 books and articles in English on the fate of the Christian churches under Communist rule since World War II. The most important entries are annotated. The material is arranged on a country-by country basis and in the case of USSR there is a further subdivision by religious domination. . . his introductory chapters (pp. 3-26) offer an intriguing and original analysis of the different 'models' or patterns underlying the triangular relationship between believers, church leaders, and secular politicians in the countries concerned, which as he points out vary considerably. Mjzes concludes that the churches 'remain the protagonists of an alternative lifestyle and set of values which, ultimately, may be more lasting than the Marxist vision' (p.26).”–Canadian Slavonic Papers

About the Author

PAUL MOJZES is Professor of Religious Studies at Rosemont College, Rosemont, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; annotated edition edition (June 16, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313240027
• ISBN-13: 978-0313240027
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,933,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)