Religious minorities and secularism in Slovenia

The case of native faith

Abstract

Pavel Medvešček-Klančar (1933 – 2020) first introduced the Native Faith, known as Staroverstvo, to the broader public in two of his most essential publications: “Flight into the Shadow of the Moon: Tales of Old Beliefs” (“Let v Lunino senco: Pripovedi o starih verovanjih”,  Medvešček & Podobnik, 2006) and “From the Invisible Cardinal Direction: Unveiled Secrets of Native Faith” (“Iz nevidne strani neba: Razkrite skrivnosti staroverstva”, Medvešček, 2015).

Today, its content is shaped by many groups and individuals from the writings about Slovene pre-Christian, pagan traditions and beliefs. The article gives insight into the views and opinions of some members, followers, and believers of the Native Faith on secular values in modern Slovene society, as well as into their fears and hopes for the future.