"How Long Have you Been in the Truth" : Expressing New Forms of Religiosity: Romanian neo-Protestants in Serbia

Abstract

According to many anthropologists and sociologists, the collapse of communism and the emergence of a new nationalism in a number of post-communist countries resulted in a religious revival. In 1989/90 in Romania and Serbia, the number of those declaring themselves to be “believers” increased considerably. This religious growth also meant moving away from traditional religious forms to new ones. Focussing on conversion to neo-Protestantism in the post-communist era up to the present day, this article presents the results of ethnographic fieldwork conducted since 2008 in various Romanian villages in Vojvodina Province, Serbia. The article explores how different religious groups – such as Nazarenes, Seventh-day Adventists, Pentecostals and Baptists often stigmatized in public discourse – influenced religious change in the last decade. Even though these religious communities were already established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they are often perceived as new forms of religiosity in the area, becoming more visible and numerous in the post-communist period, especially among ethnic minorities. In addressing these issues, this article explores the role of new religious identities that have emerged in the region, the historical continuity of neo-Protestant communities and the question of conversion to neo-Protestantism.