Comments on: At the Mall (in Poland) http://konicki.com/blog2/2010/03/05/at-the-mall-in-poland/ Thoughts and opinions from a Deacon in the PNCC Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:45:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Deacon Jim http://konicki.com/blog2/2010/03/05/at-the-mall-in-poland/comment-page-1/#comment-6647 Deacon Jim Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:42:42 +0000 http://konicki.com/blog2/?p=8691#comment-6647 I think that my commentary did indicate that older generations remain within the Church for many reasons, in part faith; but it is also societal pressures and identity that play roles in that attachment. Certainly, some drift away. The young are simply more and more absent. They see no relevancy, no reason. Their church is consumerism and the E.U., neither of which is the prima facia cause, but simply someplace else to go. The someplace else was made stronger by the Church dropping the ball in remaining pertinent in the new environment. The article above focuses exactly on that "disaffected teenager." I do not think I implied anything about "angry parishioners storming out." That simply does not happen anywhere, in any significant degree, to make it meaningful. I would caution against applying a study of religious faith in the U.S. to the Polish experience. I think the two cultures are just too different to draw conclusions. I think that my commentary did indicate that older generations remain within the Church for many reasons, in part faith; but it is also societal pressures and identity that play roles in that attachment. Certainly, some drift away.

The young are simply more and more absent. They see no relevancy, no reason. Their church is consumerism and the E.U., neither of which is the prima facia cause, but simply someplace else to go. The someplace else was made stronger by the Church dropping the ball in remaining pertinent in the new environment.

The article above focuses exactly on that “disaffected teenager.” I do not think I implied anything about “angry parishioners storming out.” That simply does not happen anywhere, in any significant degree, to make it meaningful.

I would caution against applying a study of religious faith in the U.S. to the Polish experience. I think the two cultures are just too different to draw conclusions.

]]> By: Thomas http://konicki.com/blog2/2010/03/05/at-the-mall-in-poland/comment-page-1/#comment-6604 Thomas Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:58:15 +0000 http://konicki.com/blog2/?p=8691#comment-6604 I understand and appreciate your effort to explain why younger people have abandoned the Church in Poland. Many of the reasons and factors you mention may have played some role in their decisions. However, your conclusions are conjecture not supported by actual sociological and statistical research. I tried to find a scientific study of religious affiliation or change of religious membership in Poland, but failed to do so. However, I did find one for the United States, and it does not agree with your analysis. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life published a report in April of last year entitled "Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U.S.". (http://pewforum.org) While it does not look at Poland, it does show that the common reasons which you listed for leaving the Catholic Church were not among the major factors which former Catholics listed. The vast majority of former parishioners "just gradually drifted away" and said their decision to leave happened over time, unprompted by any one-time event. The reasons cited most often by those who have left the Catholic Church were that their spiritual needs were not being met, that they "just gradually drifted away", or they "found a religion they liked more". Please read the Pew study for more details. Again, this study is about the U.S., not Poland. Nevertheless, I venture to state that a similar study in Poland would come to a similar conclusion, or as Catholic researcher Mark Gray stated, "The poster child of former Catholics is a disaffected teenager", not a parade of angry parishioners storming out over sex abuse or teachings with which they disagree. "This is about youth coming of age and not feeling connected to their faith." I understand and appreciate your effort to explain why younger people have abandoned the Church in Poland. Many of the reasons and factors you
mention may have played some role in their decisions. However, your
conclusions are conjecture not supported by actual sociological and
statistical research.

I tried to find a scientific study of religious affiliation or change of religious membership in Poland, but failed to do so. However, I did find one for the United States, and it does not agree with your analysis. The
Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life published a report in April of last
year entitled “Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the
U.S.”. (http://pewforum.org) While it does not look at Poland, it does
show that the common reasons which you listed for leaving the Catholic
Church were not among the major factors which former Catholics listed.
The vast majority of former parishioners “just gradually drifted away”
and said their decision to leave happened over time, unprompted by any
one-time event. The reasons cited most often by those who have left the
Catholic Church were that their spiritual needs were not being met, that
they “just gradually drifted away”, or they “found a religion they liked
more”. Please read the Pew study for more details.

Again, this study is about the U.S., not Poland. Nevertheless, I venture
to state that a similar study in Poland would come to a similar
conclusion, or as Catholic researcher Mark Gray stated, “The poster
child of former Catholics is a disaffected teenager”, not a parade of
angry parishioners storming out over sex abuse or teachings with which
they disagree. “This is about youth coming of age and not feeling
connected to their faith.”

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