Christianity Facing the Ageing of Global Population

Authors

  • Anna Sanecka Faculty of Theology, The Christian Theological Academy, ul. Miodowa 21 c, Warsaw, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs20152.240.256

Keywords:

Christianity, Commandments, obligation, honour, respect, help, support, charity, old age, elderly peoples, parents, churches, Christian communities, teaching, attitude

Abstract

The ageing population is a great challenge for the whole world including churches, Christian communities, Christian families and the so-called “Christian countries”. The respect and support for elderly people is almost a common rule of social life in developed countries regardless of religious views. But in the Christian world this obligation has very strong religious justification – obligation enshrined in the Commandments of Old (the fourth/fifth Commandment) and New (the second one of The Greatest Commandments of Love) Testaments. Therefore between the Christianity – understood as a set of different communities sharing their beliefs in Jesus Christ – and aging population there are many very different connections including among others: honour and respect, privilege, obligations, giving – receiving relations, duty, charity, solidarity, dependency. They are present both in the teaching and the practice of different Christian communities starting with Churches, through NGOs and Christian societies, ending with Christian families. The paper shows some of these connections. It also tries – based on a case of Poland – to answer the question whether the Christianity is ready to face the aging of global population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bloom A. (1985). The Spirituality of Ageing . Retrieved from http://masarchive.org/Sites/texts/1985-00-00-0-E-E-T-EM05-001SpiritualityOfOldAge.html

Bloom A. (1999). Gerontology Conference in Bournemouth. Retrieved from http://masarchive.org/Sites/texts/1999-09-17-1-E-E-T-EM06-017GerontologyConference.html

Benz E.W. (n.d.). Christianity. Retrieved July 20, 2015 from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity

Bunda M., Walewski P. (2012). Starość: problem młodych [Old Age: the Problem of Young People]. Retrieved from http://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/spoleczenstwo/1529755,3,kto-ma-sie-zajac-opieka-nad-polskimi-seniorami.read

Carrera I. & Carrera J. (2007). Identities for the 21 century. Barcelona: Christianisme i Justicia Booklets.

Charitable Services (n.d.). Retrieved August 1, 2015 from http://protestantaid.org/charitable-services

Dręgowska J. (2008). Postrzeganie starości i odchodzenia we współczesnym świecie [Percepcion of Old Age and Passing Away in the Temporary World]. In: R. Konieczna – Woźniak (Ed.), Dorosłość wobec starości. Oczekiwania – Radości – Dylematy [Adulthood towards the Old Age. Expectations – Joys – Dilemmas] (pp. 187 – 194). Poznań: Adam Mickiewicz University Press.

Ekumeniczna Stacja Opieki [Ecumenical Care Station]. Retrieved August 2, 2015 from http://www.diakonia.pl/

First Dogmatic Constitution On The Church Of Christ Pastor Aeternus (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015 from http://catholicplanet.org/councils/20-Pastor-Aeternus.htm

Global AgeWatch Index 2014: Insight report, summary and methodology. Retrieved February 10, 2015 from http://www.helpage.org/global-agewatch/

Harmati B. (1982). Some introductory notes on the study program on Christian ethics and the question of property. In: B. Harmati (Ed.), Christian ethics and the question of property, (pp. 7 – 13). Geneva: Department of Studies The Lutheran World Federation.

Johan Paul II (1999). Letter Of His Holiness Pope John Paul II To The Elderly. Retrieved fromhttp://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_01101999_elderly.html

Kluczyńska J. (2014). Praca socjalna a działalność pomocowa Kościołów – cechy wspólne, różnice, inspiracje [Social Work and an Assistance Activity of Churches – Common Qualities, Differences, Inspirations]. In: M. Patalon (Ed.), Religijne uwarunkowania pracy socjalnej, [Religious Conditions of Social Work] (p. 76 – 91). Toruń: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek.

Konieczna – Woźniak R. (ed.). (2008). Dorosłość wobec starości. Oczekiwania – Radości – Dylematy [Adulthood towards the Old Age. Expectations – Joys – Dilemmas]. Poznań: Adam Mickiewicz University Press.

Łuczak M. J. (2014). Dobroczynność, wolontariat i praca socjalna – od nakazów religijnych ku profesjonalizacji praktyk społeczno – kulturowych [Charity, Volunteering and Social Work – from Religious Obligations to Professionalizing Socio – cultural Acts]. In: M. Patalon (Ed.) Religijne uwarunkowania pracy socjalnej [Religious Conditions of Social Work](pp. 9 – 30). Toruń: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek.

Machinek M. (2011). Ewolucja pojęcia rodziny. Aspekty teologiczno- etyczne [Evolution of the Concept of the Family. Theological and Ethical Aspects] In: P. Morciniec (Ed.), Family Forum, vol. 1. Problemy współczesnej rodziny [Problems of Modern Family].Opole: Redakcja Wydawnictw Wydziału Teologicznego Uniwersytetu Opolskiego.

Magnier M. (2013). In southern India, relatives sometimes quietly kill their elders. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/15/world/la-fg-india-mercy-killings-20130116

Na południu Indii Na południu Indii dzieci zabijają starych rodziców, topiąc ich w mleku. Dziennikarka walczy z okrutnym rytuałem [In the south of India children kill old parents by drowning them in milk. The journalist fights with cruel rite].(2015). Retrieved from http://wyborcza.pl/1,75477,17356624,Na_poludniu_Indii_dzieci_zabijaja_starych_rodzicow_.html#ixzz3TCCS3zrP

Nowakowska K. (n.d.). Ciężko nam wejść w rolę opiekuna naszych starzejących się rodziców. Lęk młodego pokolenia przed odpowiedzialnością [It is difficult for us to get into the role of a caregiver of our ageing parents. Young generation’s fear of responsibility]. Retrieved August 5, 2015 from http://weekend.gazeta.pl/weekend/1,138589,17461505,__Ciezko_nam_wejsc_w_role_opiekuna_naszych_starzejacych.html

Osewska E. (2013). Wartość życia i cierpienia osoby starszej w perspektywie pedagogiczno – teologicznej [Value of life and suffering of elderly person from pedagogical – theological point of view]. In: J. Stala, N. Bravená (Eds.), Człowiek wobec bólu, cierpienia i śmierci [A human being towards pain, suffering and death] (p. 11 – 22). Kraków: Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II w Krakowie, Wydawnictwo Naukowe.

Ostański P. (2008). Biblijna perspektywa starości [Biblical perspective of old age]. In: R. Konieczna – Woźniak (Ed.), Dorosłość wobec starości. Oczekiwania – Radości – Dylematy [Adulthood towards the Old Age. Expectations – Joys – Dilemmas] (pp. 121 – 130). Poznań: Adam Mickiewicz University Press.

Ostański P. (2007). Historiozbawcza wizja starości w Piśmie Świętym. Studium egzegetyczno – teologiczne [Historiosalvical View on Old Age in the Bible. An Exegetical – Theological Study]. Poznań: Adam Mickiewicz University.

Paul J. A., Paul S.S.(1994). Humanity comes of age. The New Context for Ministry with the Elderly. Geneva: WCC Publication.

Pomoc osobom starszym (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2015 from http://diakonia.org.pl/komu-i-jak-pomagamy/pomoc-osobom-starszym/

Pomoc społeczna [Social service]. Retrieved August 2, 2015 from http://www.diakonia.pl/

Romaniuk K. (1993). Lata podeszłe i starość według Biblii [Senile years and old age according to the Bible].Warszawa; Wydawnictwo Sióstr Loretanek.

Shahina K. K. (2010). Mother, shall I put you to sleep? Retrieved from http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main47.asp?filename=Ne201110Maariyamma.asp

Stala J., Bravená N. (2013). Człowiek wobec bólu, cierpienia i śmierci [A human being towards pain, suffering and death]. Kraków: Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II w Krakowie, Wydawnictwo Naukowe.

Strzelec M. (2008). Potrzeby osób w podeszłym wielu w nauczaniu Jana Pawła II [Needs of people advanced in years in teaching of Johan Paul II]. In: R. Konieczna – Woźniak (Ed.), Dorosłość wobec starości. Oczekiwania – Radości – Dylematy [Adulthood towards the Old Age. Expectations – Joys – Dilemmas] (pp. 175 – 185). Poznań: Adam Mickiewicz University Press.

Sureshpenny Vera Sanso V. (2010). No mercy killing, this. Retrieved from http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/article257994.ece

The Ministries of Lutheran Charities (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015 from http://www.lutherancharities.org/ministries.html

Ustawa z dnia 12 marca 2004 o pomocy społecznej [Social Service Act]. Retrieved August 2, 2015 from http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU19890290155

Ustawa z dnia 24 kwietnia 2003 r. o działalności pożytku publicznego i o wolontariacie [Act of Public Good Activity and Volunteering]. Retrieved July 13, 2015 from http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU20030960873

Ustawa z dnia 30 czerwca 1995 r. o stosunku Państwa do Kościoła Adwentystów Dnia Siódmego w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej [Act of relationship between the state and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Republic of Poland ]. Retrieved August 20, 2015 from http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU19950970481

Ustawa z dnia 30 czerwca 1995 r. o stosunku Państwa do Kościoła Chrześcijan Baptystów w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej [Act of relationship between the state and the Christian Baptist Church in the Republic of Poland]. Retrieved August 20, 2015 from http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU19950970480

Wilk E. (2013). Rodzice swoich rodziców [Parents of their parents]. Retrieved from http://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/spoleczenstwo/1553125,2,co-jestesmy-winni-rodzicom.read

Wybrane tablice dotyczące przynależności narodowo-etnicznej, języka i wyznania - NSP 2011 [Selected Tables Concerning National, Ethnics, Language and Confession Affiliation – National General Census 2011]. Retrieved March 3, 2015 from http://stat.gov.pl/spisy-powszechne/nsp-2011/nsp-2011-wyniki/wybrane-tablice-dotyczace-przynaleznosci-narodowo-etnicznej-jezyka-i-wyznania-nsp-2011,8,1.html

Downloads

Published

2020-01-02

How to Cite

Sanecka, A. . (2020). Christianity Facing the Ageing of Global Population. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 6(2), 240–256. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs20152.240.256

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2015): Journal of Education Culture and Society

Section

DYNAMICS

License

CC-BY

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. All authors agree for publishing their email adresses, affiliations and short bio statements with their articles during the submission process.