THE ETHICS OF FAMILY RELATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY SERBIA AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Abstract

The contemporary family in Serbia is undergoing a complex process of transformation shaped by profound social, economic, and cultural changes. Processes of modernization, globalization, and secularization significantly affect traditional family roles and the ethical norms governing family relations. In this context, the Serbian Orthodox Church represents one of the key social actors seeking to preserve and transmit traditional moral values related to marriage, parenthood, and family solidarity. The subject of this paper is the analysis of the relationship between ethical norms, religious teachings, and the legal protection of the family in contemporary Serbia. The main research question is: To what extent and in what way does the Serbian Orthodox Church actually influence the ethics of family relations within the framework of a secular state governed by the rule of law? The specific contribution of the paper lies in its interdisciplinary approach, which connects ethics, sociology, religion, and family law, with the aim of demonstrating how the moral authority of the Church is exercised within the framework of the constitutional protection of the family and the value pluralism of contemporary society. The methodology is based on the analysis of relevant domestic and foreign literature, as well as on a critical examination of contemporary social processes in Serbia.