Christian Spiritual and Moral Values in Education

According to the article, the challenges facing contemporary education highlight the necessity of turning to traditional Christian axiology. The dominance of pragmatism and secular humanism as guiding principles of modern civilization has led to the “loss of meaningfulness” in human nature and existence. At the same time, the sphere of new technologies has, for many, become a kind of new religion, replacing the earlier “quasi-faith” in progress. As a result of the industrialization and mechanization of life and of the educational system, the volitional dimension of the human being is in decline, giving way to a pursuit of comfort and power—trends that foster depersonalization, dementia, and contribute to the rise of totalitarian and castelike structures. This raises the question: can we respond to these challenges not with money or some ideology, but with spiritual principles of life?

The article stresses the importance of distinguishing between Eastern Orthodox and Western Christian responses to the problems of development and the pathways of education. Orthodox axiology is characterized by Christocentrism, hierarchical order, and the priority of personhood (hypostasis). The Godman Christ is understood as the organizer of the hierarchy of a renewed humanity. The uncreated divine energies are present within the hierarchy of the human being, and participation in them is possible only through personhood (hypostasis). The concept of “knowledge” is also important in this framework of shaping the educational system. It is not merely natural but is understood as both personal (hypostasis based) and natural.

In articulating the Christian axiology of the Eastern tradition, it is important to show the integration of theory with practice. Hence the formative role of historical heroes and saints, both past and present, in education. By drawing on the concrete examples of their lives and good morals, we can reveal the deep connection between modern life and spirituality and faith.

Eastern Christian pedagogy expands the horizons of contemporary education by preventing the self-enclosure of cognitive processes in the hyper-informational age. It elevates the human person above the quasi-utilitarian goals of modern educational systems and provides a basis for structuring education around a personalist and value-based hierarchical approach. This is supported by patristic anthropology and the broader system of Christian spiritual and moral values on which it rests.

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