Drawing on insights from group dynamics and group therapy as well as the Christian faith, this book asserts the strategic importance of small groups for making the church more relevant to contemporary life. It gives specific guidelines, examples, and several case studies for the development and clearly structured activity of sharing groups. Such…

Secularization and pluralism exist in Catholic universities today. There is no dominant Catholic philosophical tradition. Other philosophies, including neothomism and Christian existentialism, are discussed. The nature of the problem in Catholic philosophy departments and the task to overcome the situation at undergraduate and graduate levels are…

Over the past 20 years independent lines of research in the fields of classroom environment and student attitudes to Christianity have been conducted. A study brought these two fields together by investigating the relationship between student perceptions of religious classroom environment and their attitudes toward Christianity. A personal form of…

In Norway changes in legislation in recent years have loosened the firm hold of Christian philosophy in the schools and given room for alternative secular philosophy. This article presents background information and an outline of the basic plan for life philosophy as a school subject. (Author/SJL)

The author suggests that young people are slipping away from Catholicism because they have no sense of identity with it. She advocates instruction in church history to give secondary school students a sense of their "roots" in the church. Eight potential themes for such a course are outlined. (SJL)

Examines Piaget's theory of disequilibration as the tension and subsequent growth caused when new information must be assimilated or accommodated to fit one's view of reality. Indicates ways Christian religious educators can use the concept of disequilibration to understand adolescents' emotional and cognitive growth. Suggests implications for…

Presents results of a study of 16 to 18 year olds measuring attitude toward Christianity and interest in science. Finds significant negative correlation between the two. Cites key factors explaining this negative relationship as the perception of Christianity as necessarily involving creationism and of science as attaining to absolute truth or…

Discusses the standards described in the U.S. book "National Standards for World History." Summarizes the book's content and gives examples of specific topics for different grade levels. Believes that world history teachers in Canada should read this book even though it excludes information on the South Pacific, Australia, and Canada.…

Asserts that the text, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, accommodates the four periods and all liturgical rites of the catechumenal process for adults to children of catechetical age. Suggests that this formation model for catechesis helps parish directors and Catholic school principals foster true conversion in students who do not belong in…

Observes that contemporary Protestant denominations suffer from poor religious education of their members. Suggests that educators should look to John Wesley for guidance. Discusses Wesley's development of educational methods and materials in 18th-century England. Argues that religious education must enhance cognitive knowledge and encourage…

Presents a holistic ecclesial vision contained in the academic, practical, and ecumenical work of Letty Russell. Derives a systemic design of the Christian church that promotes it as a transformative agent in postmodern society from Russell. Suggests a theoretical model to make the church more proactive in contemporary society. (DSK)

Discusses whether separate Christian schools are defensible in a pluralistic, liberal democracy, presenting the perspective of Christian parents and assuming that these parents want their children to attend separate Christian schools. The paper argues that Christian education and separate Christian schools can be compatible with civic education…

This study investigated whether values were taught or caught in the experiences of Year 3 students in a Uniting Church school for boys. Research indicates the need for values education particularly for boys (Lovat and Schofield, 1998), the importance of the home and family in establishing a values foundation (Astill, 1998a, 1998b) and the role of…

Although the history of Christianity in Russia dates back to the tenth century, the history of private Christian higher education in Russia is no more than a decade. This paper first explains the historical reasons for this fact and then describes the contemporary development of faith-based private education in Russia over the past decade. When…

There has been little research conducted on Taiwanese Aboriginal music education in comparison to Aboriginal education. C. Hsu's "Taiwanese Music History" (1996) presents information on Aboriginal music including instruments, dance, ritual music, songs and singing, but information on music education practices is lacking. The examination…