Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains the pillars of Balkan contextual theology (intersection of religious and national identities; theological resources of nationalistic ideologies; slow democratic development; obstacles to ecumenical dialogue; gender). It focuses on theological and religious experiences, but the outlooks vary. The book analyses the evolution of religious and national identities among Serbians. It argues that aggressive ethnoreligious nationalism is an unavoidable topic in the context of the Western Balkans, Milicevic underlines that its occurrence is neither unavoidable nor self-evident. The book offers valuable insight into the development of ecumenical efforts between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in Croatia. It addresses the conspicuous absence in the region of theological responses to developments of political and liberation theology in Western Europe.