Religia jako wartość w obrazie świata A uksztotów południowych .......... 199

RELIGION AS A VALUE CATEGORY IN THE WORLDVIEW OF SOUTHERN AUKŠTAITIANS

Based on the semantic and ethnolinguistic analysis of systemic (lexicographic) and textual data, the article attempts to reveal what linguistic and cultural image of religion is established in the worldview of the Southern Aukštaitians and how it changes over time. The research relies on the methodology of the reconstruction of linguistic worldview developed by the Ethnolinguistic School of Lublin and the works of Lithuanian ethnolinguists. The main focus is on God and faith as the fundamental religious values. The analysis revealed that in dialectal discourse, God does not appear to people in a physical form, but demonstrates his existence through various manifestations, dreams. He is typically characterized according to the Christian conception: omnipotent, omnipresent, merciful, caring, fair, never abandoning. However, not all of God’s decisions are unconditionally accepted by people as fair. In dialectal data, the aspect of social inequality is also emphasized: it is neither easy for a poor person on earth nor in the afterlife, while the wealthy receive blessings both from God and from the clergy, or even from what is considered an anti-value, such as the devil. Lexicographic and other sources usually emphasize religious, educational, moral and ethical aspects of faith. For the Southern Aukštaitians, faith is a tool that helps them to cope with various challenges in life and an important value category of human existence linked to moral and ethical norms and principles that regulate behaviour. It influences the position and authority of any individual within the family, social group or community. However, neither excessive religiosity nor atheism are considered virtues; the best approach is a conscious religious balance. Often, individuals tend to overestimate themselves and their actions, viewing them subjectively, and only God can provide a fair evaluation of everything. Although in essence residents from the villages and small towns of Southern Lithuania value religion as an important and indisputable truth and part of life, they adapt it to their needs, community standards, and changing environment. Therefore, their concept of faith may differ from the officially proclaimed one, for example, in theological works and statements. In the worldview of the Southern Aukštaitians, Christian teachings, symbols and rituals are consciously and unconsciously associated with folk beliefs, customs, magic or elements of sorcery, the concept of the afterlife embedded in ancient worldviews, etc. Trends of secularization and signs of crisis in moral and ethical values common in the Western world and Lithuania, which are observed by sociologists and researchers from other fields, are also noticed in dialectal discourse. The Southern Aukštaitians observe the growing weakening of religious faith, changing attitudes towards the clergy and the church, decreasing adherence to traditional moral and ethical principles, emergence of new forms of faith and rituals, etc. All that, in addition to various other factors, undoubtedly contributes to the transformation of both the traditional family model and the conventional community model.