Perception et interprétation subjective des causes de la division religieuse

Abstract

As a form of intragroup conflict, religious schism must not necessarily be a consequence of disagreements over religious beliefs and practices nor should the dissenting body neces sarily show inclination toward religious puritanism and holi ness. It is possible that disputes in a religious body may concern problems which are often considered outside the do main of religion or at most on its periphery. This proposition is consonant with the fact that religion is intricately inter woven with other institutions. Therefore, as a society or a group shifts its interests or experiences significant struc tural changes, all institutions, including religion, come under strains. In a predominantly immigrant minority group whose religion serves as the primary source of its identification, the different segments may come to perceive the functions of their church differently, in accordance with their life objectives which reflect their differential life experiences. The dissenting group may try to rearrange the functions of the church by giving to its immediate temporal goals. The magnitude of a religious cleavage can be measured by objective and subjective criteria. The subjective criteria on which this study of the schism in the Serbian Orthodox Church in America is based include the respondents and the explanation of motives which they impute to certain segments of the ethnic group for taking one side or another in the church controversy. Since a great number of respondents belong to either segment of the ethnic group they then explain their own reasons for preference in the church controversy. While these opinions disclose the kind of perception of mo tives of one faction by the other they also are indicative of their latent intentions.