Młodzi Polacy poszukują prawdziwych wartości wśród duchownych. Analiza badań w świetle logoterapii V.E. Frankla

Abstract

This article aims at describing the reality in which young Poles live and grow up, as well as the challenges they have to face, posed by modern times and the changes taking place in their country, Europe and the whole world. We also consider how to participate in the process of young people’s growing up. One opportunity is meetings organized by youth pastoral centers run by religious orders and institutes of consecrated life. The article presents the results of research carried out in 13 youth pastoral centers in the year 2007/2008. One variable, a search for meaning in life, is especially analyzed. In the difficult period of growing up, young people often ask themselves the very first existential questions, such as “Who am I?”, “What do I live for?”, “What is the sense of the things I do?”, “Where do I belong in the world?” It is necessary for adults to accompany young people throughout this complex process of growing up, offering them support and help. However, there arises the question of the extent to which one can interfere in the development of particular people and the shaping of their personality through content and values influencing their way of perceiving the world and themselves. The analysis of this research can serve as a starting point for reflection on things that need to be emphasized, elaborated or changed, so that the meetings with young people can be even more fruitful and the proposed suggestions point to better solutions.