Inspiring Faith in Schools (Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology)

220 Pages·2007·0.67 MB·English

by  Marius Felderhof

INSPIRING FAITH IN SCHOOLS
Inspiring Faith in Schools addresses the privileging of secularism that appears to
affect RE in countries influenced by modern western thought. The authors argue that
a more engaging form of RE would emerge if religious life were to inhabit centre
stage. Currently religious faith is made to hover in the wings awaiting the call to face
the inquisitorial challenge of the modern day enquirer. The consequent relationship
between pupil and the Divine as the purpose of study is then already intrinsically
irreligious, as indicated in the Book of Job by putting God in the dock, whereas it
is the pupil who should be (cross-)examining his or her life. What are the ways of
exciting and engaging the young so that they begin to entertain the possibility of
religious life as a genuine option for themselves? Leading scholars in philosophy
and theology from the UK, Australia, Canada and the USA come together to address
these questions together with RE experts. Marius Felderhof writes an Afterword
summing up the challenges faced by such a re-visioning of RE.
Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and
Empirical Theology
Series Editors: Leslie J. Francis, University of Wales, Bangor, UK
and Jeff Astley, Director of the North of England
Institute for Christian Education, UK
Theological reflection on the church’s practice is now recognised as a significant
element in theological studies in the academy and seminary. Ashgate’s new series
in practical, pastoral and empirical theology seeks to foster this resurgence of
interest and encourage new developments in practical and applied aspects of
theology worldwide. This timely series draws together a wide range of disciplinary
approaches and empirical studies to embrace contemporary developments including:
the expansion of research in empirical theology, psychological theology, ministry
studies, public theology, Christian education and faith development; key issues of
contemporary society such as health, ethics and the environment; and more traditional
areas of concern such as pastoral care and counselling.
Other titles in the series include:
The Bible and Lay People
An Empirical Approach to Ordinary Hermeneutics
Andrew Village
978-0-7546-5801-6
Deaf Liberation Theology
Hannah Lewis
978-0-7546-5524-4
Theological Reflection and Education for Ministry
The Search for Integration in Theology
John E. Paver
978-0-7546-5754-5
Renewing Pastoral Practice
Trinitarian Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counselling
Neil Pembroke
978-0-7546-5565-7
Engaging with Contemporary Culture
Christianity, Theology and the Concrete Church
Martyn Percy
978-0-7546-3259-7
Inspiring Faith in Schools
Studies in Religious Education
Edited by
MARIUS FELDERHOF
University of Birmingham, UK
PENNY THOMPSON
Freelance Writer and Researcher in Religious Education
DAVID TOREVELL
Liverpool Hope University, UK
© Marius Felderhof, Penny Thompson and David Torevell 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
Marius Felderhof, Penny Thompson and David Torevell have asserted their moral right under
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the editors of this work.
Published by
Ashgate Publishing Limited Ashgate Publishing Company
Gower House Suite 420
Croft Road 101 Cherry Street
Aldershot Burlington, VT 05401-4405
Hampshire GU11 3HR USA
England
Ashgate website: http://www.ashgate.com
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Inspiring faith in schools : studies in religious education. – (Explorations in practical, pastoral
and empirical theology)
1. Religious education 2. Religious education – Teaching methods
I. Felderhof, M. C. II. Torevell, David III. Thompson, Penny
200.7’1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Inspiring faith in schools : studies in religious education / [edited by] Marius Felderhof, David
Torevell, and Penny Thompson.
p. cm. – (Explorations in practical, pastoral, and empirical theology)
ISBN 978-0-7546-6031-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Religious education. I. Felderhof, M.
C. II. Torevell, David. III. Thompson, Penny.
BL42.I57 2007
207’.5–dc22
2006103257
ISBN 978-0-7546-6031-6
Printed and bound in Great Britain by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall.
For Terry McLaughlin
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Contents
List of Figures ix
List of Contributors xi
Foreword xv
Acknowledgements xix
PART 1 1
1 Secularism, Schools and Religious Education 3
Brenda Watson
2 Understanding, Belief and Truth 17
Joe Houston
3 Confession and Reason 25
Ieuan Lloyd
4 Religious Education and Committed Openness 35
Elmer Thiessen
5 Religious Education in Australia and New Zealand 47
Grant Maple
PART 2 61
6 Religious Education from Spens to Swann 63
Penny Thompson
7 Religious Education and the Misrepresentation of Religion 75
Philip Barnes
8 Religious Education, Atheism and Deception 87
Marius Felderhof
9 Can ‘Skills’ Help Religious Education? 99
William K. Kay
10 Is there Anything Religious about Religious Education Any More? 111
Joe Fleming
viii Inspiring Faith in Schools
PART 3 125
11 Dismembering and Remembering Religious Education 127
John Sullivan
12 On the Grammar of Religious Discourse and Education 139
David Carr
13 Religious Education through the Language of Religion 151
Iris Yob
14 Religious Education and Liberal Nurture 163
Andrew Wright
15 Crossing the Divide? 175
Jeff Astley
Afterword 187
M.C. Felderhof
Index 193
List of Figures
1 A six-fold approach to valuing, capable of being shared by all 11
2 The circle and the orb, permitting the six-fold approach to valuing
to be seen from a secularist or a religious perspective without loss
of integrity 12