Wychowanie moralne w kontekście przemian cywilizacyjnych

The ecclesiastical context appears to have a special importance for moraleducation. This is obvious as moral education is carried out in the life ofa specific religious community. The second half of the 20th century, i.e., the period introducing us into the new millennium, has been a time of deeptransformations in Christianity and particularly in the Catholic Church.Needless to say, these transformations have had a remarkable impact onthe process of moral education of the young generation.It may be said that the political, economic, social, cultural and religiouschanges of the 20th century have a specific character. A symptomatic featureof these changes, observed especially nowadays, is their rapid pace as wellas their universal character. Industrial civilization transformed not onlypeople’s external living conditions, but has had an influence on man’sinner life and on his behaviour in both moral and religious spheres. Theoccurrence of these changes can be noted not only in particular nations,but indeed in the whole of mankind.The new conditions exert an influence also on religious life. Onthe one hand they enhance the ability of a critical judgment and havea purifying effect on the world outlook, ridding it of magical elements andoccasional superstitions which happen to darken it. On the other hand thereis required a more personal and active clinging to faith, which helps manypeople to adopt a more vital relationship with God; many others, however,practically abandon religion.