Transcript Consitution & enlargement

Trends and realities in
European Culture:
values, attitudes, practices
Where does Malta stand?
Consecrated Life in A European Malta
KSMR Seminar, 31 May 2004
ANTHONY M. ABELA
Differing methodologies
CHURCH
• A reading of signs of the
times based on experience of
church leaders, [male] bishops
trained in cannon law/ theology
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select literature review
no references to authors
commissions of experts
maintain tradition
production of documents
authoritative teaching
response to problems
SOCIAL SCIENCE
• test of hypotheses:
continuous challenge to
established knowledge
• wide literature review
• references to authors
• methodological individualism:
representative surveys
• analysis of data
• interpretation of findings
in an open method
• no definite results
Ecclesia in Europa: an analysis
dimming of hope:
• many troubling signs in third millennium
• loss of Europe's Christian memory & heritage
• practical agnosticism & religious indifference
• asserting rights without Christianity
Pope John Paul II. Ecclesia In Europa. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. 28 June 2003.
An analysis of culture and society (1)
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loss of meaning in life
diminishing number of births
decline in vocations to priesthood and religious life
difficulty/ outright refusal to lifelong commitments,
including marriage
widespread existential fragmentation. Loneliness,
divisions and conflicts
phenomenon of family crises & weakening concept
of family
ethnic conflicts, racism, interreligious tensions
a selfishness, closes individuals/groups on themselves
An analysis of culture and society (2)
• Globalization: marginalized poor in the world
• Individualism: weakening of interpersonal
solidarity without supporting structures
• a vision of man apart from God and Christ
• relative values, morality, pragmatism, hedonism
• “silent apostasy” as if God does not exist
• a new culture of death, influenced by mass media,
in conflict with Gospel and human dignity
EU: Europe as a civil community
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growing openness of peoples to one another
reconciliation between countries
opening up to countries of Eastern Europe
forms of cooperation and exchanges
a European culture/ consciousness
democratic procedures
freedom that respects & fosters legitimate diversity
growing unity of Europe
conditions and ways to respect human rights
rights and quality of life
guarantee primacy of ethical and spiritual values
consecrated life at a critical turning point
“new evangelization” … creation of more complex structures and relationships
starting-point several characteristics of present-day cultural/ social face of Europe
widespread demand for new forms of spirituality: acknowledge God's absolute
primacy, … permanent conversion in a life offered up as true spiritual worship
secularism and consumerism: … testify to life's transcendent dimension
multicultural and multireligious world… evangelical fraternity … a stimulus to
purify/ integrate different values through reconciliation of divisions
new poverty /marginalization … founders’ creativity in the care of most in need
self-absorption … continue evangelization on other continents
Pope John Paul II. Ecclesia In Europa. 28 June 2003
the Church in Europe called to follow the path of love
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rediscover authentic meaning of Christian volunteerism:
preferential love for the poor
confront the challenge of unemployment
pastoral care of the sick
a proper use of the goods of the earth
truth about marriage and the family
God's word to shine deep in many tragic human situations
pastoral care of divorced and civilly remarried families
build a new culture of life
a guiding role by the Church's social teaching
a culture of acceptance and hospitality
recognition of the fundamental rights of each immigrant
suppression of abuses
genuine integration
Pope John Paul II. Ecclesia In Europa. 28 June 2003
Europe primarily a cultural and historical concept
rethinking international cooperation in terms
of a new culture of solidarity
an active partner in promoting and
implementing a globalization “in” solidarity
a proper ordering of society rooted in authentic
ethical and civil values
Pope John Paul II. Ecclesia In Europa. 28 June 2003.
Draft Constitution for Europe (2003)
“Drawing inspiration from the cultural,
religious and humanistic inheritance of
Europe, the values of which, still present
in its heritage …” [Preamble]
“Conscious of its spiritual and moral
heritage, the Union is founded on the
indivisible, universal values of human
dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity
…”
Preamble, Charter Fundamental Rights of the Union
World/European Values Study: culture shifts
post-materialism:
material security  self-expression, participation …
individualisation:
external authority  individual self-direction
Two dimensions explain cross-cultural variation:
1. Survival vs self-expression values
2. Traditional vs secular-rational authority
Post-materialism: two key hypotheses
1. Scarcity hypothesis: an individual’s
priorities reflect the socio-economic
environment. Greatest value to things in
relative short supply.
2. Socialisation hypothesis: cultural change
takes place as a generation replaces another,
not one of immediate adjustment. Thus, a
substantial time lag and differences between
the values of older and younger generations.
Survival/Well-being and GNP
Postmaterialists, age & education
Post-modernisation & authorty
Self-expression - Service economy
Emancipation - Self-expression
Ingelhart Values Map
interrelated trends
• institutional religion vs individualised spiritualities
• authoritarian vs democratic family/social values
• gender equality: masculine vs feminist values
• exploitative vs environmental values
• instrumental vs expressive work values
• absolute vs relative morality
• restrictive vs permissive morality
• individualism vs social capital
• diffidence vs interpersonal/institutional trust
• exclusive vs inclusive solidarity
•‘European Malta’ vs ‘Maltese European’
Transformations of religion
institutional religion  individualised spiritualities
• ‘believing without belonging’
• believing & belonging without
conforming to church-directed morality
• ‘vicarious and precarious memory’
• individualised emotive spiritualities
+ service-giving institutionalism
European Regions:
analysis of EVS data
• North-Western: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom
• Eastern: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
• Southern or Mediterranean: Greece, Italy,
Malta, Portugal, Spain
Gender and family issues
N/West
East
South
Malta
EU
working mother and children
60
72
65
59
65
job independence women
56
72
69
44
64
household income contribution
52
86
78
71
68
fathers looking after children
60
71
65
62
64
Men less able handling emotions
41
50
50
50
46
children suffer working mother
35
60
72
88
50
women want home and children
31
65
59
69
47
being a housewife fulfilling
39
58
59
86
49
men need children
27
57
42
34
39
giving men priority in jobs
18
22
32
49
22
Family issues
N/West
East
South
Malta
EU
long-term relationship to be happy
46
75
67
64
59
marriage outdated
22
15
15
6
19
woman single parent, approve
39
41
34
15
39
love and respect parents
56
74
80
91
66
Parents’ responsibilities
67
61
78
91
67
children need both parents
73
89
86
92
80
traditional value orientation
29
45
48
59
38
Social exclusion
N/West
East
South
Malta
EU
different race
8
17
15
19
12
immigrants +foreign workers
11
25
13
16
16
jews
7
18
17
21
12
muslims
14
27
19
28
19
gypsies
31
50
39
30
38
large families
8
11
10
16
9
drug addicts
60
79
56
72
65
heavy drinkers
45
79
47
74
56
criminal record
33
67
54
80
48
homosexuals
18
51
30
40
30
people with AIDS
15
43
31
39
27
emotionaly unstable people
23
43
34
30
31
Table 1. Individualisation and postmaterialism in EU Regions
N/West
East
South
EU
%
%
%
%
Traditional
29
45
48
38
Mixed
34
37
35
35
Individualised
38
18
17
28
Materialists
20
35
26
26
Mixed
62
58
58
60
Post-materialists
18
7
16
14
Religion-Society relationship
three ideal types
1) paleo-Durkheimian:
church co-extensive with society
2) neo-Durkheimian:
political entity to carry out God’s design
3) post-Durkheimian:
expressive spiritualities dissociated from society
(Charles Taylor 2002)
Solidarity models
Durkheim
Mechanical
Homogeneous
Dependence
Organic
Heterogeneous
Interdependence
Bonding
Exclusive
Bridging
Inclusive
Turner & Royek 2001
Thick-’hot’
Thin- ‘cool’
European Values Study
Traditional
Individualised
Fukuyama 1995
Putnam 2000
Beugelsduk & Smulders 2003
Abela
Local / family Global Solidarity
Social Solidarity
Table 2a. Institutional Religion in EU Regions
N/West East South
Belong to church/ religion
Religious service birth
Religious service marriage
Religious service death
Confidence in church
- Individual/moral problems
- family life
- social problems
- spiritual needs
%
67
64
67
75
43
31
27
22
49
%
62
68
68
75
49
42
39
22
61
%
90
82
85
88
66
50
45
37
65
EU
%
70
69
71
77
50
38
34
25
56
Table 2b. Religious Belief in EU Regions
N/West
East South
EU
%
%
%
%
Belief in God
66
64
90
70
Belief in life after death
43
41
53
44
Belief in hell
23
27
44
28
Belief in heaven
39
33
56
41
Belief in sin
46
58
69
54
Belief in telepathy
34
40
30
35
Belief in reincarnation
16
21
17
18
Table 2c. Religious practice in EU Regions
N/West East South
Are you religious person
Importance religion in life
Comfort and strength from religion
Prayer and meditation
Attend at least once month, when 12
Attend at least once a month
Spend time in church, once a month
Member religious organisation
Work religious organisation
Religious beliefs marriage
Religious faith child's education
56
42
44
57
54
28
20
23
8
16
17
64
44
48
57
50
30
18
8
5
18
20
76
72
72
73
82
54
35
10
7
33
37
EU
62
48
51
60
58
34
23
16
7
20
22
Table 3. Religion and Generations
Belong to church / religion
Attend at least once month, when 12
Attend at least once a month
Confidence in church
- Individual needs & moral problems
- family life
- social problems
- spiritual needs
Prayer and meditation
Are you religious person
Comfort and strength from religion
Importance religion in life
PreWW2
PostWW2
Post1960s
EU
78
70
69
58
65
50
70
59
46
62
49
32
46
35
25
41
30
34
50
38
44
33
63
70
31
23
54
59
27
19
51
53
34
25
56
60
73
64
62
61
49
45
53
40
38
62
51
48
Table 4. Statement of belief: what kind of God?
N/West
East
South
EU
%
34
36
14
15
%
34
39
16
12
%
70
20
7
3
%
41
34
13
12
PreWW2
PostWW2
Post1960s
EU
Personal God
Spirit or life force
51
28
39
36
34
37
41
34
Don’t know what to think
11
13
16
13
No spirit God or life force
10
13
14
12
Belief in:
Personal God
Spirit or life force
Don’t know what to think
No spirit God or life force
Table 5. Politics and Religion in the EU
N/West
East
South
EU
%
%
%
%
Unbelievers in God unfit for political office
10
15
26
15
Better if stronger religious believers
hold public office
17
26
34
23
Religious leaders should not influence
government decisions
68
70
68
69
Religious leaders should not influence
voters in elections
74
77
77
76
Catholic
Orthodox
Protestant
Muslim
Unbelievers in God unfit for political office
18
45
11
27
Better if stronger religious believers
hold public office
30
47
21
42
Religious leaders should not influence
government decisions
69
59
63
54
Religious leaders should not influence
voters in elections
76
75
72
57
Table 6a. Socio-economic Solidarity in EU regions
Immediate family
Neighbourhood people
People own region
Fellow countrymen
Elderly
Sick and disabled
Unemployed
Humankind
Immigrants
Europeans
N/West East South EU
%
%
%
%
78
83
92 82
34
25
35 31
21
16
26 20
22
23
31 24
62
56
75 63
56
53
71 58
36
42
53 41
28
18
37 26
20
9
26 18
13
9
18 13
Table 6b. Socio-economic Solidarity and Generations
Immediate family
Neighbourhood people
People own region
Fellow countrymen
Elderly
Sick and disabled
Unemployed
Humankind
Immigrants
Europeans
preWW2
postWW2
post1960s
EU
%
%
%
%
82
36
25
26
73
64
47
25
17
14
83
32
21
25
63
59
42
27
19
14
83
26
16
20
52
51
34
26
17
11
82
31
20
24
63
58
41
26
18
13
Table 6c. Socio-economic Solidarity and Religiosity
Immediate family
Neighbourhood people
People own region
Fellow countrymen
Elderly
Sick and disabled
Unemployed
Humankind
Immigrants
Europeans
Religious
Nonreligious
Atheist
All
%
84
34
23
26
68
63
45
28
19
14
%
80
27
16
19
55
50
34
22
15
10
%
80
28
21
24
53
50
41
30
22
16
%
83
32
21
24
63
59
42
27
18
13
Table 6d. Socio-economic Solidarity and Individualisation
Traditional
Mixed
Individualised
Immediate family
Neighbourhood people
People own region
Fellow countrymen
Elderly
Sick and disabled
Unemployed
Humankind
Immigrants
Europeans
%
85
34
22
24
65
59
43
22
15
12
%
82
30
19
24
63
58
41
26
17
12
%
78
29
19
24
59
57
39
32
23
15
All
%
82
31
20
24
63
58
41
26
18
13
Table 7. Regression analyses for solidarities in the EU
Independent Variables:
Individualisation
Post-materialism
Importance of God in life
religion important
family important
leisure important
friendship important
work important
politics important
Age years old
Gender M/F
local/family
-0.21
-0.13
0.24
NS
0.23
-0.09
0.07
0.04
NS
0.19
0.05
social global
ns
0.06
0.18
0.21
0.14
0.05
NS
0.13
0.14
0.33
0.15
0.31
0.28
0.11
0.10
-0.05
NS
0.23
NS
0.39
NS
NS
Findings
• EU a mixed society ranging from
traditionalism & materialism 
individualisation & post-materialism
Predominant in EU region:
• N/West: individualisation & postmaterialism
• East: Traditionalism & materialism
• South: Mixed traditionalism & postmaterialism
All over Europe:
• institutional religion unhooked from political power
• individualised beliefs and
institutional church religion
spiritualities
displace
• emotive spiritualities & servicing activities co-exist
with institutional religion
• post-Durkheimian model/ individualisation thesis:
explains uncoupling of religion from politics
• neo-Durkheimian model explains:
continuing impact of religion on solidarity
Differential impact of religion on
distinct components of solidarity
• traditional institutional religion important for
social solidarity
• individualised spiritualities important for
family, local, community solidarity
• politics more important than institutional
religion for global solidarity
• political and social agents to promote global
solidarity in individualised social networks