Duhovna oskrba v sodobnih oboroženih silah : tipologija modelov in izzivi hibridnih ureditev
Spiritual care in modern armed forces : a typology of models and the challenges of hybrid structures

slovenian

2026

volume 86, issue 2

armed forces   hybrid models   military chaplaincy   military spiritual care   pluralism   Slovenia

Univerza v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The article examines institutional models of military spiritual care and their transformation in contemporary armed forces. It proceeds from the observation that the traditional understanding of military chaplaincy as a confessionally organised form of pastoral care is no longer sufficient for analysing spiritual care practices in plural, secularised and operationally complex military environments. Drawing on a literature review and qualitative comparative analysis, the article develops a typology of three basic models of military spiritual care: the confessional model, the functional-plural model and the plural-liberal model. Particular attention is paid to hybrid arrangements, which combine elements of different models and are manifested at legal, organisational, functional and identity-related levels. The typological framework is applied to the analysis of arrangements in the post-Yugoslav space, with particular emphasis on the Slovenian model as a transitional hybrid arrangement. The article argues that contemporary military spiritual care is increasingly developing at the intersection of religious care, ethical counselling, existential support and functional embeddedness within broader systems of support for members of the armed forces.

13.10.2026