Śląskie wartości — praca, rodzina i religia. Geneza, trwanie i zmiany
Silesian Values — Work, Family and Religion. Origin, Persistence and Change

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the origin of the formation and transformation of Silesian values since the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. Based on historical and sociological studies and the Author’s own research, an attempt will be made to trace the process of shaping, strengthening, and changes in the Silesian values: work, family and religion. As the experience of other western communities have shown, in time of strong industrialization and urbanization there is a secularization and laicite of society and the breakdown of family relationships, however a different phenomenon occurred in Silesia. Firstly, the period of the First World War, when Silesia belonged to the German state will be analyzed. German Protestant work ethic and actions of Kulturkampf contributed in this period of time to the formation of Silesian work ethos and values of the family and religion. Secondly, the interwar period will be discussed, when the three values were subject to change under the influence of both external and internal factors, taking place in the communities of Silesia. With the passage of time those values either strengthened or changed their character. Thirdly, in the period of real socialism, a destruction of the ethos of work and its “duality” is described in detail, in relation to the persistence of family values and religion. In conclusion, the changes which have occurred in the 20 years of systemic transformation are shown, when there was a weakening of the value of religion, a redefining of the value of family and a strengthening of the value of work in the same time.

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