Društveni kontekst i teorijsko-hipotetski okvir istra živanja "Novi laički crkveni pokreti u Hrvatskoj"

In this paper the author presents the theoretical, empirical and socio-religious conceptual components of the research "New Lay Ecclesiastical Movements in Croatia". Namely, the Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar in Zagreb has conducted a poll in the observed groups of certain lay ecclesiastical movements during June and July 2001. In the context of a new social, cultural and religious pluralism and individualism in Croatian transitional-transformational society, the phenomenon of lay ecclesiastical movements is analysed both in an interdisciplinary way as well as multidimensionally. As regards the phenomenon of new lay ecclesiastical movements, i.e. their members, particularly prominent is a renovatory-prayer determinant where special importance is given to the individual, personal, religious experience, subjective religious experience occurring within the dynamics of the close emotional group in community with the Church. Furthermore, systematically examined in the research are the relevant socioreligious characteristics and basic ecclesiastical characteristics of the observed lay ecclesiastical movements in Croatia and their dynamic relationship towards both the Church and society in a changed system of values of the new social and cultural situation of democratic society in Croatia.