Participatory Learning: Religious Education in a Globalizing Society (Empirical Studies in Theology) (Empirical Studies in Theology)

A study of the foundations of religious education. It is centred around six concepts: religion in a globalizing society; religious tradition; religion; the religious self; learning through participation; and interreligious learning. Annotation Hermans (professor of identity of Catholic schools and religious education, Catholic U. of Nijmegen, the Netherlands) analyzes religious education in the context of globalization as a cultural phenomenon a phenomenon characterized by processes of rationalization, fragmentation, and transformation. He explores the changing nature of tradition in terms of Christian concepts of transcendence and immanence as it relates to education. After attempting to define the characteristics of religion as experience, language, and practice, he proposes a concept of religious instruction based on "participation." Participatory learning is defined as developmental, social, mediated, and meaningful learning. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) In many respects children and youths receiving religious instruction in our culture resemble extraterrestrial beings doing an orientation course. Religion and religiosity are unknown quantities which they have hardly encountered at home. Religion seems something else, something greater. This book is a study of the foundations of religious education, centered around six concepts: religion in a globalizing society, religious tradition, religion, the religious self, learning through participation and interreligious learning. By Chris A.m. Hermans. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [380]-396) And Indexes.