Argues that academic study about religion is an essential part of a complete education, especially in social studies classes, since religion and faith play a significant role in people's motivations and actions. Discusses the legality and appropriateness of teaching about the role of religion. Describes specific activities that integrate the…

In this article we take up Burtonwood's criticism of our view that liberal states should, under certain conditions, fund denominational schools. We not only reject his plea for the accommodation of strong faith schools by liberalism but also criticise his portrayal of the character of the conflict between liberals and strong faith school…

In this, the first of a series of short essays which explore the unique ethos embraced and advanced by different Christian denominations in their schools, Andreasen argues the necessity of Christian colleges and universities offering their students a unique, distinctive Christian perspective throughout their learning experience rather than some…

This is a policy paper in which the author specifically addresses the transitional phase of the REA-APRRE merger. Based on a content analysis of the research directions of the journal Religious Education (English, D'Souza, and Chartrand 2003) and an analysis of research in the cognate area of the social sciences, the author identifies areas that…

This article suggests that sex education in Church schools should address the personal as political through proclaiming the liberating potential of incarnational theology. The author suggests that Christian sex educators should be alert to the construction and commodification of desire and its attendant capitalist implications. While resisting…

This paper revisits the concepts "explicit" and "implicit" as pointing to distinct forms of religious consciousness and as conceptual tools for differentiating between diverse forms of Jewish education. The presenting problems are as follows: (a) Is the idea of integration between both of these orientations feasible in terms of psychological and…

The 100th anniversary of any organization's founding is an occasion for celebration. At the least, one can celebrate the organization's longevity in surviving for a whole century. The organization has to be doing something right to exist that long. The Religious Education Association (REA) has done many good things in its 100 years of existence.…

It is tempting to respond to the question of what research is needed in religious education by saying, "Everything!" Although religious education as an academic discipline can be viewed as over one hundred years old, and much research has been done on a variety of issues, there is still so much that is not understood. In this paper, the author…

This article addresses the question of whether ecumenical theological education may be a practice of peace. Beginning with the potential of religious belief to reinforce entrenched positions and to end in violence, it advocates instead the transformative practices of witness and risk. These practices have the potential to overcome the impasse…

This volume is the first in a set of two to be published as the National Society for the Study of Education (NSSE) yearbook for 2008. Planning for the volumes began more than five years ago, when the Society's Board of Directors expressed an interest in taking steps to encourage a more expansive, robust, and inclusive dialogue about education in…

An evolving vocabulary has introduced new words and new meanings for old words into the vocabulary of Alberta's Catholic Schools. The following thirty words and phrases considered to be prime examples are discussed: blueprints, Catholic school, Christian, Christian morality, Christian values, church teachings, difference, ecumenism, faith…

The permanent order of deacon is proposed in the United Methodist Church. The following are suggestions for governing representative ministry so it can be structured to enliven and renew the life of United Methodism: (1) any view of diaconal and other representative ministries must be seen in relation to the general ministry of all Christians; (2)…

This paper explores the legal ramifications associated with teaching moral and spiritual values in the public schools. Following a history of the problem, the paper discusses four schemes currently used for teaching these values to the young: (1) withdrawing children from public schools to either enroll them in private or parochial schools, or…

Discusses the issue of moral blame as it relates to the AIDS epidemic. Argues that regarding AIDS as divine punishment for immorality is ethically and theologically unsound, resulting in a poor response to the AIDS crisis. States that self-righteous moral judgment is an inappropriate and un-Christian reaction toward AIDS victims. (GEA)

A society is committed to basic moral principles as a function of being human and not merely by consensus. However, society's commitment to Christianity depends on the extent to which that faith is rooted in the population, even though the state may have a moral duty to provide religious freedom. (RM)