Paper short abstract:

On the basis of two case studies (the image of Virgin Mary; the double-cross) I try to introduce how a Christian symbol becomes a radical-right, neonationalist symbol in contemporary Hungary.

Paper long abstract:

In the past few years several important articles have been published on contemporary material religiosity, the popular usage of religious objects, the appearance of Christian symbols in 'mundane' mass culture and the circulation of religious symbols between religions and cultures. During this process certain religious symbols could partly lose their original meaning and mingle with symbols from differing religious-cultural canons. As part of this process a symbol could appear as a decorative or fashion object, obtain a primarily aesthetic character or be attached to political ideologies. These processes can be well analysed in post-socialist Hungarian culture where several Christian symbols have gained new or partly new content. On the basis of two case studies (the image of Virgin Mary; the double-cross) I try to introduce how a Christian symbol becomes a radical-right, neonationalist symbol generating political and scientific debates.