Introduction

For decades now, two major transformations have been modifying the traditional European scenario: secularisation and religious pluralism. At the same time there has been an increasing complexity of the organizational models within the society. Consequently, individual attitudes and behaviour depend less and less upon one’s position in the social structure and more and more upon one’s personal elaboration of the resources and models made available by single biographical itineraries. This leads not only to an enlargement of the possibilities of choice offered to individuals but also to an impairment of the points of reference useful for guiding their choices. The result is a “horizontal society” and “horizontal lifestyles” in a landscape where identities and affiliations are ever-less ascribed and ever-more dependent upon individuals’ spontaneous initiatives, thereby becoming more problematic and more reflexive. Recent studies confirm that religions, churches and religious individuals themselves in their practices and beliefs are not exempt from the evolution described above.