USLUGE CRKAVA I VERSKIH ZAJEDNICA

Abstract

In this paper the author points to the significance of churches and religious organizations in all domains of social life and to the numerous services they offer to interested parties, not only to individuals, but to legal entities as well. This relationship between church and state has not always been the same, nor has the scope of the services which church and religious organizations offer to those in need. It has depended (and will continue to depend) mostly on the fact whether they perform their services in monarchies or republics and whether there is a separation of church and state. Nevertheless, it is undisputable that there are numerous fields in which various services can be offered by religious organizations - the scope has widened particularly after the collapse of socialism at the end of the 20th century. It is not a rare case that church dignitaries play an important role in the functioning of a particular social community, even in political life. The scope of this paper is not large enough to identify and analyze all the activities and versatile services which church and religious organizations offer to those in need, the most important being education and upbringing of young people, the spread of culture’s practices and beliefs, perseverance in preserving and protecting traditional values, holding masses and liturgies, spiritual growth of the believers, charity and humanitarian work, building and restauration of houses of worship, establishing educational institutions, organization of lectures in the field of religious education from elementary schools to higher education institutions, etc.