Muzeum wyznaniowe. Funkcja – cele –zadania
Denominational museums: their function, objectives and tasks

Summary/Abstract: The article opens a series devoted to the history and function of the museums of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland. This paper is a preliminary text and provides the background for the key issues. If we want to address the issue of church museums, we must be aware of what type of museum they are. Are they exclusively independent centres operating under certain laws? Can lavishly equipped churches be referred to with this name? In addition, the article attempts to answer questions not only about the nature of denominational museums, but also about their role in museology, and whether we should call them religious museums or church ones, the terminology which is more common in scholarly and popular literature. Denominational museums are unique due to the fact that not only do they contain sacred and religious art, but they are also institutionally and doctrinally subordinate to religious authorities. This type of museum is obliged to adhere to theological principles and rules. One of the objectives of a denominational museum is to respect the religious context of a given work of art.

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