Religiosity in Serbia and other religiously homogeneous European societies: A comparative perspective

Abstract

Using the latest European Social Survey (ESS) data, the authors of the study examined the current religious composition of Serbia, and compared the empirical data obtained in Serbia with the ones acquired in other religiously homogeneous European societies. In the first part of the study, the data obtained in the ESS research in 2018 were observed in light of the historical continuum of religion development in Serbia since the First World War. In the second part of the study, the authors applied Grace Davie?s model and a comparative model to compare Serbia with nine religiously homogeneous societies where the ESS research had also been conducted in 2018. This structure of the paper accomplishes a double objective and scientific contribution. On the one hand, an insight into the current state of religiosity in Serbia is obtained, and on the other hand, a theoretical framework previously used for Western-European societies is applied to Orthodox countries (including Serbia). The authors suggest the following main hypotheses: the stabilisation of religious composition is currently underway; there is a discrepancy between religious and denominational declaration and religious practices; and the theoretical framework defined by Davie can be applied in the case of Serbia.