Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 80 No. 2, 2010.
Original scientific paper
Vital Values for a successful Marriage in Croatia (EVS – 2008) – Findings and Stimulus for Action
Josip Baloban
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Šimunović
orcid.org/0000-0003-0253-1393
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Krunoslav Nikodem
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The authors of this article, who were involved in the European Values Study (EVS -2008) as researchers discuss some of the vital values for a successful marriage based on the results of their research. The results presented were derived on an empirical social science method and an analytical-critical method of theological science. According to EVS - 2008, amongst those surveyed, there is still a high percentage of Croatian citizens who consider that marriage is not an outdated institution. On the one hand, traditional opinion is obvious concerning values about marriage in the Republic of Croatia whereas on the other hand, influences of (post)modern society are evident which is reflected in the decreasing number of marriages. EVS - 2008 notes the following as the most significant values for the success of a marriage: fidelity, willingness to discuss problems that arise between a man and woman, children and a good sexual relationship, while agreeing on political issues, being from the same social background and sharing the same religious beliefs are not considered as values that significantly affect the success of a marriage. The highest positioned value according to those surveyed was fidelity and can be related to the fact that marriage in modern Croatian society is still not an outdated institution. The authors believe that this conception of fidelity as a vital value for a successful marriage and the actual realistic situation as well as the trend concerning marriages and divorces are an indication and urgent call for the Church and Church activists in Croatia to prepare a quality, lifely ecclesiological and socially efficient pastoral-catechistic action and care with regard to marriage and the family. The article also analyses and compares fidelity as a value for a successful marriage and some basic religious characteristics. Positioning the value of willingness to discuss problems that arise between a man and woman in second place as a vital value for a successful marriage is a stimuli for the Church in its pastoral activities to offer programmes to assist future spouses in quality and mutual communication based on the principles of Evangelic messages and a general psychology of communication. Children were considered to be the third most vital value for a successful marriage. The Church as a constructive part of society and an institution in which more than half the population of Croatia places its trust must focus more on some form of family policies to support families that will responsibly act according to the challenges in the future development of the Church and society. A good sexual relationship was the fourth value that those surveyed considered to be vital for a successful marriage. From a pastoral-theological view, that value is a constituent part of man's existence and behaviour and actions.
Keywords
marriage; values; fidelity; problems between a man and woman; children; sexual relationship; pastoral activities
Hrčak ID:
56248
URI
Publication date:
19.7.2010.
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