REVENGE AND IDENTITY
Marks (tensions) of the traumas, losses of a culture suffered during its history live further in the members of the culture and are able to survive even through 600 years, waiting for revenge. This survival, tension caused by the trauma is ensured mainly by the processes of socialisation, language codes, national and related identities, collective recollection and individuality regarding communication culture. Revenge can be perhaps avoidable in that case if the tension could be vented, if the suffered trauma would end in the sense of Zeigarnik-effect, but if the tense is existing, there is still possibility, execution of revenge, even if it causes momentary disadvantage of culture, for instance in the case Serbians in former Yugoslavia, where they were almost the biggest losers of the civil war initiated by them. Here would the social-psychology and the current political leadership play a giant role to find those ways that provide the members of the culture constructive assistance in the processing of the mourning that arose due to the loss. Another giant role should be played by education that would be present from pre-school to university, teaching tolerance.
CONNECTIONS OF NARRATION AND ETHICS IN THE NOVEL TITLED TRAVELLING COMPANION BY GYULA KRÚDY
If we take a glimpse at the history of developing the genre of the novel, we can see that this genre from the beginning was in relation with that field that is almost called morality or ethics. In our study — analysing the Novel titled Travelling Companion by Gyula Krúdy — we call attention to this relationship, of which aspects have not been examined yet. At the same time we argue that Krúdy can be called author of „history of ethics“ only with restrictions. The examination is focused on the connections of ethics, morale and narration.
THE PROBLEM OF THE PROTESTAN CLERICAL RANKS AT THE CHURCHES OF REFORMATION IN THE 16 CENTURY
The Clerical Ranks (Kirchenordnung) in the protestant theological literature of the 16 century served as special clerical constitutions for the organising churches (communities) in that position, when the bishop clerical structure broke and a new structure developed during the study of the Bible that was to enter into force that needed principles on spiritual and organisational level, when the basic teachings of reformation, under which influence reformation of the church happened, were to reach the members of the church, that needed at one hand a short summary, and at the other hand a methodological assistance, when the relationship between religious and earthly leadersip was to be articulated.
The author, who in the Hungarian language and Central European reformed theology deals with Protestant clerical ranks in detail as the first person, in this study gives an introduction, a kind of categorisation of the given issue.
FEMALE CHARACTERS IN THE STORIES ON ANCIENT
The author by examining stories of the Old Testament introduces some of the typical femail characters. These stories only seemingly talk about male characters; although it is true that the big occassions are connected with male characters, they still are about family stories. The study by the significant occassions searches even the determining occassions, in which women are not just present, but they show a wide spectrum of female character types that can be noticed even by a man’s eye. Thanks to the above-mentioned we can get to know to the character of Sara, Hagar, Rebeca, Rachel, Lea, Tamar and Potifar.
MULTI-PERSPECTIVITY AND HISTORICAL CONCILIATION
Present polemical essay makes some reflections on György Jakab’s recently published essay on the issue of a „mutual Hungarian-Slovak history book”. The idea that a particular history book written simultaneously by Hungarian and Slovak experts could ease the tension between Hungarians and Slovaks, has been circulating among historians and history teachers on different levels on both sides for more than a decade. But despite the involvement of numerous experts on both sides (Viliam Kratochvíl, Peter Zelenák, Attila Simon, László Szarka, Adelaida Mezeiová, Duąan ©kvarna and others), there has not happened much in this issue. As Jakab correctly states is, even the genre of the planned mutual history book has never been specified. The author of this study shares the majority of György Jakab’s views, but in contrast with him his conclusions about the future possibilities of a mutual history book are more optimistic. Vajda’s optimism origins from two main sources. First, from the evaluations of the events that have taken place since 2002, especially the Analysis and Recommendations of an international mini-conference in Piliscsaba (April 2002) when the participants had presented a four-lateral deep analysis of each others’s history textbooks used in Hungarian and Slovak schools in both countries. Second, Vajda sees some significant efforts that have been made by front line experts in history didactics (on both, Hunagarian ad Slovak sides), concerning Viliam Kratochvíl’s and Ágnes Dárdai’s didactical research activities, for example. He regards their results and especially the changes that have spread due to their efforts in teaching history in schools sufficient enough for a good foundation for a future „mutual Hungarian-Slovak history book”. In Vajda’s opinion, a „mutual Hungarian-Slovak history book” should be a specific workbook supported by a teachers’ book. Apart form the most uptodate historical knowledge, it would be based on more effective didactical methods such as multi-perspectivity and confrontation of different kinds of sources, while all activities would be done and understood in an open interpretation field. A supportive sub-project, involving Hungarian and Slovak students using the same history workbook would also be essential. The challenge of a „mutual Hungarian-Slovak history book” might seem rather high, and there is no guarantee for success. However, significant international experiences of the Georg-Eckert-Institut für internationale Schulbuchforschung, show that by patient work, focused knowledge and social support the target can indeed be reached.
MUSLIM INTERPRETATION OF RELIGIOUS INTERFERENCIES
From the formation of the Islam it is a known fact that the teaching of Mohamed is actually based on the Old- and New Testaments; it uses its stories, character, but interprets them in a special way in its own way. The author, examining the Christian-Moslim interactions, states that both the Christians and the Moslims as well consider the interferencies from a very special point of view. The interferencies, investigating the common basises, cannot get rid of their own viewpoints practiced more than through 1400 years. Although, in the European way of thinking from the Roman era the „audiatur est altera pars!” is adviced, but it seems that in the religious field, being Islam or Christian, it is not or just slightly applied. The reason: both the Christian and the Islam religions are exclusive, cannot accept other viewpoints, since it would be forced to give up its own.
READING AND THE ABILITY TO READ
The reading is such an ability of a man that requires and at the same time deserves examining it from several aspects. Hearing the concept of learning/ teaching reading for the first time is only in educational environment for the beginning reader identification of legitimately occuring opportunities. If in connection with this we consider only pedagogical, psychological or methodological approach, there are a lot of tasks to do.
Today the knowledge of reading of adults and children is lagging. Thus the children of the today are in disadvantage, since their parents do not read, reading is not part of their natural and everday activities and experience. They do not cultivate often reading fairy tales in the evening for their children, consequently they are not familiar with the joy of reading.
In building the basisc of the knowledge of reading an important aspect is that the electronic man comes closer to the reading person and that a cultural man can become from him, who not solves not only the utilisation of reading, but of re-reading for building himself and others. By neglecting knowledge of reading not only the success of school and literature education is in stake, and thus the future of the literature, and not even to preserve reading culture, but to preserve writing literacy.
CAIN AND ABEL. INTERPRETATION OF A MYTH
The history of Cain and Abel is one of the examples of the narrative theology, of which mythological language and message can be „translated” into some generally valid statements.
The history of Cain and Abel is an example that shows where can enviousness, jelousness, and anger in us lead. Unfortunately, we have not learnt from this example, since world history is mainly the continouos repetition of the story about Cain.
Every murder is fratricide. Every murder is the consequence of anger in us and of the faulty way of thinking. Cain is present in everyone, this is why it is possible to manipulate people permanently and successfully to go to war against someone.
A man is responsible for those acts that he makes in anger. God warns the man on the fatal consequences of anger. There is no such sin, and/or crime about which God would not call a man bring to account.
There is no „perfect crime”.
RETAIL CHAINS, SHOPPING HABITS, BORDER AREA IN SOUTH SLOVAKIA
The social and economic changes after the system change basicaly changed the functioning conditions of the Slovak retail business. New shopping chains were created, the ownership relations were arranged, the technology of sale and the shopper’s habits significantly changed. The study analyses the market position of international retail chains and the new types of sales (shopping centers and shopping malls) creaded during the last fifteen years in Slovakia, and evaluates the characteristics of the changed habits of shoppers on several examples of South Slovakian cities (Dunajská Streda, Vel'ký Meder, Komárno, Tornal'a).
Within the framework of the examination, a special attention is paid to business processes through the border. The analysis of retail business characteristics of the cross-border area is especially important after the joining of the European Union and Schengen, when not administrative, but purely market, geological, infrastructural properties determine the character and direction of over-the-border trade.
THE TEACHING OF HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE MIRROR OF RESULTS OF THE GRADUATION EXAM
The author of the article tackles the current issues regarding the Hungarian language education as a mother tongue at upper secondary schools (high schools - NAmE).
The introductory part of the article deals with characteristic features of a mother tongue, which is the bearer of various specific functions. In the second chapter the author provides us with the information about the state of various types of educational institutions where Hungarian minority students are getting their education in their mother tongue. Furthermore, the author points out to the main tendencies of teaching the Hungarian lannguage as a mother tongue in the current conditions.
The gist of the contribution is in the third chapter, where the author analyses the results of the secondary school leaving exam in the subject the Hungarian language and the literatue, taking into account the levels A and B (B2 and B1 - according to the Common European Framework for Languages). The evaluation is processed in the chart form — no. 1 to 4. In the fourth part the author traces the opinions of the secondary school teachers on the internal written part of the exam. The teachers´answers , gathered in the form of surveys, are processed from the point of view of the factors which lead to a crisis in Hungarian language and literature teaching.
In the end of the contribution/article the author states that a solution to the crisis must be found as soon as possible.
MARTIN RÁZUS IN THE MIRROR OF THE HUNGARIAN PRESS IN SLOVAKIA
Martin Rázus was the most productive author of the Slovak literature between the two world wars, at the same time as an evangelic priest he performed rich public and political activities as a leading personality of the Slovak National Party. Therefore, considering the history of literature after power take-over by the communists he was displaced to the periphery. He was specially recognized from the side of Hungarian oppositional and governmental-party powers in Slovakia, therefore his extraordinary close relationship with the Hungarians in Slovakia could not get the appropriate attention. In this field the system changes did not bring important changes. The work examines writings on Rázus between the two world wars and its conclusion is the recognition that the character of Rázus could serve with extremely valuable inspirations for the publicistic discussions of which aim is the improvement of the Slovak- Hungarian relations.