Korać: Church interference makes Montenegro part of Iran in Europe

The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro is a completely religious institution, a direct participant in political life, which represents Montenegro as a part of Iran on European soil, assessed professor and sociologist Zarko Korac.

A recent survey conducted by Damar Agency in Montenegro showed that citizens trust the church the most, while political parties are the least trusted. The great distrust of citizens towards parties is not surprising, because for years we have been used to politicians saying one thing and doing another.The increase in trust in religious communities is worrying, as it strikes at the very foundations of the state as civil and secular.

For Korać, this kind of research is nothing new because, as he says, our societies in the region in such studies almost as a rule show that citizens trust the church and the army the most.

In order to understand this result, it is important to know that in Western societies, in response to this question, family comes first, then close friends, and often people with whom you work – says Korac and adds that there is a big difference in who you trust the most between our region and the rest of Europe.

Some sociologists, he says, attribute this to historical circumstances, the late emergence of the modern state and centuries of reliance on forces outside society that should have protected you.

But, Korać argues, it is also the result of an extremely authoritarian consciousness that sees submission to institutions as a desirable way of life.

Montenegro has entered an almost theocratic phase with its religious processions movement, and although it formally has all the institutions of a modern state, the formation of a government by oath-taking in a monastery is reminiscent of the Middle Ages. It is a unique case in Europe, says Korać.

Therefore, he said, it is not surprising that the Church, which incidentally has its seat outside Montenegro, appears as an institution of the greatest importance for the majority of Montenegrin citizens.

Today, it is a fully religious institution in Montenegro, a direct participant in political life, representing Montenegro as a piece of Iran on European soil – concludes Korać./Pobjeda/