2013 REA Annual Meeting, Nov 8-10 Sturla Sagberg, Queen Maud University College, Trondheim, Norway
[email protected] ABSTRACT Major studies of altruistic actions show that the self-understanding of one person can make the difference between disaster and hope for those involved. This paper is a heuristic- hermeneutical discussion of the values of altruism in analyzing material from the terror attacks in Norway July 22, 2011. It tries to identify clues to how such values can be focused on, fostered and supported in religious education. The conclusion points towards the significance of a narrative approach to ethics and to spiritual formation in a wide sense as one important perspective of religious education. ONE PERSON MAKES A DIFFERENCE A STUDY IN ALTRUISM AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION INTRODUCTION: On July 22, 2011, Oslo and Utøya Island in Norway became sites of terror, with 77 people killed by one man (Anders Behring Breivik) who claimed it to be a defense of Christian culture against a multi-culturalist society. The event and the responses to it have led to a self- searching process: How can a young person develop a value system that allows such an atrocity? Another question is also asked: What makes young people respond with hope and expressions of love instead of just call for retaliation? The now famous “love quote” by a young member of the Labour party: “If one man can show so much hate, just think how much love we all together can create”1 was followed by many similar reactions (Sagberg, 2014). Both the event and the responses tell stories that are usually associated with altruism, that is, attitudes and acting out of the interest of others even at the risk of one’ own well-being.