EN
Nation, the basic and natural human community, has consists of twofold elements: object-oriented (material) and subject-oriented (psychical-spiritual). The objective elements include: 1) the territory – a place of birth; 2) a relatively numerous and powerful human fellowship that unites people of a common biological origin; 3) the state – it ensures rights and needs of the nation. In order for the national community to be permanent the subject-oriented elements are more essential, for they constitute its culture. The most important are as follows: 1) a common language – a factor of social communication and integration and an indispensable foundation for literature; 2) a common history and tradition – a “memory” of the nation; 3) moral awareness – a specific national ethos; 4) religion – Christianity in Europe has played a nation-formative role. The specific character of national culture is not identical with the attitude of ethnocentrism.