Effect of Serbian Ortodox Religious Teaching on the Morality of Youth - Eshatological Aspect

This paper presents the findings on the system of values and moral functioning of the youth - students of religious education, Orthodox Christians, in Serbia (sample of 446 respondents representing the 7th and 8th grades of primary school, and 3rd and 4th grade of secondary schools in the territory of the Diocese of Banat), and it is a part of the broader study on the impact of religious education on the morality of young people in Serbia, which shows the extent and quality of achievement of the morality of the youth through religious education. Aims and objectives of religious education imply providing a holistic Orthodox view point at world and life, taking into account two dimensions: the historic Christian life (the historical reality of the Church) and eschatological (future) life (ideal dimension) and both of these dimensions are contributing in the creation of a healthy social and ecclesial community, by its existence and activities it will provide the Church easier and more effective fulfillment of its mission and also it will provide high standards of feasibility moral qualities of the young people through the educational system in Serbian schools. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of religious education on moral education and morality of young people, placing emphasis on the eschatological aspect of morality, or to determine the level of eschatological growing up of young people who attend religious classes. It was presumed that young people who attend religious education have developed eschatological morality, and religious education contributes significantly to the eschatological morality of youth. The following conclusions are derived: the current state of morality of the youth - students of religious education, Orthodox Christians, in Serbia - is encouraging, considering that the majority of respondents have a high moral consciousness (developed autonomous morality), and they have developed an eschatological morality: the girls at a higher level than the boys, the older students at a higher level than the younger, the children from urban areas at a higher level than rural children. These results provide motivation for further intensive work to achieve the required objectives and tasks of religious instruction, because it can be observed that there is possibility of realization the moral education through religious teaching in public schools in Serbia.