Presents anecdotal reflections on the serenity and revelations of the "new child" in relationship with God. Maintains that knowing one's religious tradition provides the basis for being open to all religions. (KB)

Presents an interview with Dr. Robert J. Kealey, an executive director of the National Catholic Educational Association, and an advocate for Catholic schools and educational choice. Explores the growth of National Appreciation Day For Catholic Schools, and discusses the vital public policy issues facing Catholic schools. (VWC)

Describes the research of Edward Robinson (1977) and colleagues who have studied the religious experiences of British children. Discusses implications of their findings for education and care of young children in a variety of settings. Maintains that religious experience contributes to the development of the whole child and should be respected,…

Reports that the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE), which looks at content and technical properties of Catholic education, is being revised. Provides a projected time line for the revision process and states that the new version will be available for the 2001-2002 school year. Asserts that schools need to be ready to make the…

Critiques Mahner and Bunge's disjunction between the religious convictions and the scientific work of scientists. Discusses the historical background and the current positive interaction between science and theology. (Author/JRH)

Comments on Mahner and Bunge's claims that science and religion are incompatible and that religious education hinders the development of a scientific frame of mind. Argues that religious education can be conducted such that it broadens students' horizons and introduces them to some of the available stances for living from which they can make…

Challenges Mahner and Bunge's claim about a historical endemic conflict between science and religion. Argues that an awareness of different types of knowledge enables a fuller perspective in which science, religion, art, music, and human values are all compatible. Discusses ways in which science education and religious education can be taught to…

Challenges Mahner and Bunge's proposal for handling the issue of religion in a modern educational curriculum by teaching scientific treatments in terms of disciplines such as anthropology and psychology. Proposes a dialog-based alternative whereby representatives of religious, spiritual, and nonspiritual positions are invited to present and defend…

Replies to a number of criticisms by Tom Settle, Hugh Lacey, Michael Poole, Brian Woolnough, John Wren-Lewis, and Harold Turner in a series of comments on the authors' paper entitled "Is Religious Education Compatible with Science Education?" Offers counterarguments and clarifies certain misunderstandings to show that these criticisms…

Presents a tribute to the late Bishop Francis W. Howard for his many contributions to Catholic education. Presents insights into his character: his desire to spread the Catholic faith through Catholic education, his priestly involvements, his keen social awareness, and his work with the National Catholic Educational Association. (VWC)

The terms religion and education do not necessarily fit easily together without a sense of tension or even contradiction between them. Religion, especially under the influence of medieval scholastic theology, but also as an expression of pure or naive piety, is often associated with absolute truths that are to be accepted without question on the…

Religious education has changed considerably over the 100 years of the Religious Education Association (REA); urgency has increased for human communities to honor diversity. The focus of this article is realities, visions, and promises of cultural diversity. The article includes an overview of REA's recent history, exemplifying its efforts and…

This paper focuses on an innovative curriculum for teaching culturally valued texts and the issues around the curriculum's implementation by teachers. The writers of this curriculum considered the subject-matter of this curriculum as a cultural "language" containing specific concepts, attitudes, and modes of thought. The curriculum…

In this essay, Nel Noddings calls upon U.S. public schools to equip students with a more nuanced understanding of religious vocabulary, history, and ideas. Examining recent books by outspoken atheists including Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens, Noddings argues that schools should help students "communicate…

Argument for the establishment of an ordained permanent deacon in the United Methodist Church is presented. The confusing and inconsistent treatment of the ministry of deacon is noted along with many factors indicating the present inconsistency in theology and in practice. The implications of the 1976 inauguration of a diaconal ministry are…