The Ashgate series Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology is producing some good work. The latest is 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.
Contents
Secularism, schools and religious education , Brenda Watson
Understanding, belief and truth, Joe Houston
Confession and reason, Ieuan Lloyd
Religious education and committed openness, Elmer Thiessen
Religious education in Australia and New Zealand, Grant Maple.
Religious education from Spens to Swann, Penny Thompson
Religious education and the misrepresentation of religion, Philip Barnes
Religious education, atheism and deception, Marius Felderhof
Can 'skills' help religious education?, William K. Kay
Is there anything religious about religious education any more?, Joe Fleming
Dismembering and remembering religious education, John Sullivan
On the grammar of religious discourse and education, David Carr
Religious education through the language of religion, Iris Yob
Religious education and liberal nurture, Andrew Wright
Crossing the divide?, Jeff Astley
Afterword, M.C. Felderhof
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