Christian cultural heritage part of new Danish canon
National online survey about danish values
"The ten values that people have now chosen are an expression of the most important current and future societal values: our common cultural DNA", says former minister for culture Bertel Haarder.
Hygge and Christian cultural heritage is part of new Danish canon
Following a nationwide survey the Ministry of Culture has released a new canon that shows which values are most important for the population.
The Denmark canon, which was launched by former minister for culture and ecclesiastical affairs Bertel Haarder in June 2016, received 2,425 proposals from citizens, students, clubs, politicians, associations, organizations and culture personalities. Six curators then reduced the list to 20 values that were implemented in a national online survey. Over 320,000 Danes participated in the survey and subsequently the 10 values with most votes were chosen and included in the canon.
Presenting the canon 12th of December 2016, Haarder said:
"The ten values that people have now chosen are an expression of the most important current and future societal values: our common cultural DNA. And it’s a step towards a clearer vision for our culture, which I believe is essential for the bonds that hold Danish society together."
One of the curators in the project is historian Michael Böss. He is content that Christian cultural heritage is part of the new Danish canon.
"Hereby it is acknowledged that religion is a legitimate way to help people find a purpose in life. It may be only a small part of the population visiting masses on Sundays, however the survey shows that many citizens acknowledge the significance of Christianity as foundational value in society. And it would indeed be sad if the Danish canon consisted only of secularized, civil values," Böss continued to mention.
See the 10 values included in the Danish canon below:
- Welfare society
- Freedom
- Trust (trusting each other as citizens and having trust in public institutions in society)
- Equality in the eyes of the law
- Gender equality (equal rights and opportunities)
- The Danish language (Danish Language as communication and as a cultural marker)
- Associations and volunteering (an active civil society)
- Liberality (open-minded and tolerant attitude and mindset)
- Hygge (the untranslatable concept of being together in comfortable, relaxing conditions)
- The Christian cultural heritage (e.g. The concept of charity, the Protestant concept of personal responsibility, work ethics etc.)
