The Importance of Moral Character within the Context of Contemporary Culture, and the Role of Christianity in Character Education

This project explores the importance of the moral character in integraldevelopment of children and youth. Employing a critical analysis of theprevious theories of moral character, and by engaging into constructivedialogue with contemporary culture, it reevaluates the role of traditional educational institutions, such as family, school, and religious communities. The special emphasis is put on the analysis of the consumer culture and marketing strategies thereof which treat children primarily as a consumer groups. The role of religion will be studied with focus on new models of dialogue, in contrast to any form of patronizing and indoctrination. The hypothesis is that Christianity can significantly contribute to moral education of character only if it revitalizes its traditionalvalues of empathy, acceptance and respect, through encouragement of base-communities, by emphasizing the spiritual and transcendent dimension of life, and through engaged collaboration on common good.

Keywords:marketization of education,, moral education,, formation of character

Project type:PhD project