Zornitsa Petrova (BG-Swiss Fellowships for Bulgarian Junior Scholars, Oct ‘25 – Jul ‘26) will introduce her research on:

Constructing Otherness: New Religious Movements and the Challenge of Pluralism in Post-Secular Bulgaria

05 February 2026 (Thursday), 16:30 h.

Moderated by: Tuba Eldem

Abstract: This study explores the structure of the religious field in Bulgaria, with particular emphasis on the position of New Religious Movements (NRMs), their public portrayal, and their self-perception. Examining their perceived otherness—often reinforced through negative media labelling and discursive stigmatisation—offers insight into broader societal attitudes toward religious diversity and tolerance. The study argues that narratives of otherness are largely constructed by the hegemonic agent in the field, the majority Orthodox Church, as part of an effort to preserve its power and authority in the face of competing belief systems. The legally recognised cultural and historical significance of Eastern Orthodoxy positions it as a key actor in both the religious and public spheres. Its representatives play an important role in shaping public perceptions of other faiths and in setting the tone of interreligious dialogue.

Accordingly, the main objective of this presentation, which outlines the study’s initial findings, is to analyse the rhetoric of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and its surrounding milieu in relation to religious diversity, focusing on the narratives and arguments employed with regard to NRMs. The analysis draws on discourse analysis of websites, publications, and public statements associated with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Orthodox media outlets. This approach enables the identification of key themes and linguistic strategies used to depict minority religious movements, and raises critical questions about the prospects for religious pluralism in a country that formally guarantees freedom of conscience and the inviolable right to religious or atheistic belief.