Describes the main features of a new method for teaching religious education to children. Compares this method to other British religious education approaches. The "gift method" approach begins with the child receiving some easily understood component of a religion (song, prayer, material object) then progresses to a more complex…

Articulates an ethical and theological basis for ethnographic research in faith communities. Interviews with nine ethnographers reveal that both research and researcher are changed by the research act. Argues that ethnography is an opportunity for ministry that is empowering and educational. (MJP)

Argues that too often liturgy and religious education posit an idyllic notion of the reign of God and fail to address the injustice, oppression, and violence endemic to much of modern life. This amounts to a dichotomy between the sacred and the secular. Proposes several corrective measures. (MJP)

Examines and defines the world of play for children and considers what lessons and applications this might have for adults and their spirituality. Particularly notes that the "what-if" and "as-if" dimensions of play can be used as energizing and liberating aspects of a more active adult spirituality. (MJP)

Contends that many people feel that academic excellence in higher education is being threatened by multicultural education. Provides a summary of the issues and argues that religious educators should be guided by the concept of "hospitality" regarding minority and other underrepresented groups in education. (ACM)

The Accelerated Christian Education Curriculum used in many fundamentalist private schools and home schooling in Australia is examined in the areas of Social Studies and Science and found to be at odds with widely accepted educational principles, not in compliance with registration requirements for private schools, and designed solely for the…

Using data from a national study of instructional practices in 7th- through 8th-grade science classes, this study examined a subset of Christian school teachers to determine what instructional practices predominated in Christian-school science classes. Results indicated that participants used 10 teaching methods (six constructivist and four…

Sophia Lyon Fahs's legacy for religious education is a rich source for understanding the initial decades of the movement, its present situation and its possibilities for future growth. A theorist and practitioner, Fahs's long career in religious education witnessed the ebb and flow of evangelical, liberal, neo-orthodox, radical, and revisionist…

This report contains a proposal of a task force of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) for the development of an ACCU program on education for justice. It is believed that the Catholic community must be educated in the tradition of Catholic social thought, and a learning environment must be created that reflects a…

A survey of the management, religious practices, teaching methods, and extracurricular activities in 250 Protestant and Catholic schools in Northern Ireland revealed more similarities than differences. (CP)

Provides an extensive recounting of a colloquium convened at the Institute for Christian-Jewish Studies in Baltimore, Maryland. The colloquium brought together Catholic and Jewish educators from the northeastern United States for six intensive, two-day sessions over a period of nearly three years. Discusses the development and implementation of…

Maintains that the Puerto Rican Catholic and Jewish cultural and religious experience emphasizes family, communal values, and rituals. Argues that these commonalities can be a platform for building a comparative analysis and dialog. This dialog holds the possibility of strengthening personal and communal identities, as well as increasing…

Presents a summary and interpretation of responses from the participants of the Catholic-Jewish Colloquium. The participants reflect on a number of issues including the changing nature of the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, the rationale and impact of this changed relationship, the particular elements involved in the…

Describes the programs of St. Lucy's Day School, which focuses on maintaining a special facility for children with visual impairments. Emphasizes early intervention, qualified teachers, mainstreaming, social support for family, pooling of resources from colleges and vendors in the community, and the use of advanced technology to improve education.…

Private education in the United States has endured pressure from all sides. However, religious schooling has not only survived but is growing and thriving. The paper examines the impact of private education on trends such as quality, decentralization, and consumer choice, and outlines four private school issues that remain unresolved. (SM)