Examines how the Turkish government, while maintaining a secular nation, controls religious education. Focuses on a compulsory course, Religious Culture and Ethical Knowledge, and analyzes why parents find it unsatisfactory. Reports an increase in the number of public high schools known as Imam Hatip in which curriculum has more religious content…

Bavarian schools promote a Christian civil religion by providing religious instruction for Catholic and Protestant students but not for religious minorities, and by creating an environment suffused with Christian rituals and symbols. Interviews with Christian, Jewish, and Muslim administrators and community members revealed a wide gap in opinion…

Argues that religious education should be sensitive to the existential limits that are commonly shared. States the religious life of children must be respected. Maintains that the religious curriculum topics are death, freedom, aloneness, and meaninglessness. Asserts religious education teachers must be comfortable with the presence of God, and…

Identifies four trends among centers with religious connections which reflect a tendency for such centers to get more actively involved in the provision of child care services: (1) more proactive involvement at the national level; (2) rapid increase in services; (3) more active involvement as program operators; and (4) more inclination to promote…

Advises Catholic school principals to find a quiet place each day where distractions can be placed aside for 15 minutes to contemplate spirituality. Argues that by allowing their relationship with God to permeate their busy administration, principals' mindfulness can help foster school spirituality by providing catechetical leadership for their…

Offers advice from a priest and educator on ministering to the Catholic community, including: (1) collaborating and sharing responsibilities; (2) scheduling regular staff meetings that include an agenda, prayer, and minutes; (3) being hospitable; (4) communicating with and listening to church members; (4) taking advantage of archdiocese resources;…

Describes the revision of the National Catechetical Directory (NCD), an ongoing project of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Education, in conjunction with a bishops' editorial oversight board (EOB). States that writing is underway and will be completed following consultations with Catholic communities and organizations. (NB)

Describes the founding and mission of SIGNIS, a Catholic communications organization that strives to promote the personal, social, and cultural life of all people and their communities. States that SIGNIS unites two international Catholic associations, UNDA and OCIC; both were involved in communication and media since 1928. (NB)

In this article I aim to explore some philosophical issues involved in teaching religion in Cyprus and suggest some preconditions in order for this teaching to be sensitive to the multicultural character of the island and conducive to the vision of reconciliation and reunification. First, I shall clarify some particularities of the political…

In this article, the author narrates his life story. He describes how his father shaped his critical consciousness and how his mother influenced his spirituality and sense of Christian identity. He also describes his seminary experience at St. Patrick's College in Carlow, Ireland, where he "found" his vocation to be a religious educator.…

In this article the author looks at the image of journey and its archeform, quest, and finds two spiritual concepts: that of movement to the center followed by a return, and the concomitant understanding that all that has arisen and reached maturity must return to renew itself. Four journeys, the shamanic journey of soul, the hero's journey of…

This module is part of a training program for foster parents and foster care workers offered at Colorado State University. The module examines religious practices in foster homes. The module's learning objectives address: (1) the religious background of a foster child's birth family; (2) the rights of a foster child's birth parents concerning the…

This paper examines four issues related to religion and the public schools: (1) released-time education; (2) variations in interpretation of court decisions; (3) teacher attitudes toward religious instruction; and (4) freedom of religious expression. Released-time education programs were held to be constitutional in "Zorach v. Clauson."…

This report begins with the statements of two committee members, Senators Orrin G. Hatch and Patrick J. Leahy. Witnesses included Laurence H. Tribe, Harvard Law School; William B. Ball, an attorney; Everett Sileven, Faith Baptist Church, Louisville, Nebraska; Dr. Greg Dixon, National Chairman of Unregistered Churches; Rev. Charles V. Bergstrom,…

The scope of this book is limited to a study of case law encompassing the major decisions of the United States Supreme Court involving religion and education. It is intended to aid readers in predicting the legal ramifications of various legislative enactments and administrative policies affecting the schools and in understanding the reasoning and…