Describes a case study of the views of three Sunday school teachers. Reports that the teachers' attitudes on faith and educational goals differed. Discusses ethnographic research and how it should be used in religious education. Reviews some of the promises and problems of ethnographic research in religious education. (SG)

This document combines the findings of two projects for the purpose of making some overall observations about the state of religious youth work in the United States. The first project was a review of the literature on such programs. Research on the topic is rare, while a vast body of indirectly related research spans many disciplines and empirical…

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…

An attempt was made to describe the experience of Christian religious education for its participants. This research is both ethnographic and hermeneutic. Thick descriptions gathered from ethnographic methods like participant observation, in-depth interviews, and journal keeping served as text for analysis. Weekly visits of one to four hours were…

This paper describes an ethnographic study of how fundamentalist Christian parents new to home schooling are socialized to norms, beliefs, and values of the Christian home schooling organizations with which they are affiliated. Research involved participant observation and interviews with "home schoolers" and educators over an 18-month…

Religious services and programs have been a feature of U.S. broadcasting since regularly-scheduled radio began in the 1920s. With the emergence of television, broadcast religion is more pervasive than ever before. It has also become the focus of debate over its role in United States politics. Televangelism is best regarded as a dialogue between…

Presents an annotated bibliography originally designed for use at the Catholic-Jewish Colloquium. Includes historical and biblical studies, general resources regarding the relationship between Jews and Christians, ecclesial statements and commentaries, theological resources, and educational and liturgical materials. (MJP)

Examines religious traditions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Western Christianity--to see how women were taught and what knowledge was transmitted to them. Notes that women have always had some access to religious knowledge in informal ways but were excluded from formal education once sacred knowledge became transmitted in an…

Outlines a series of components deemed essential for interfaith dialog and education: (1) productive interfaith education cannot occur in isolation; (2) interfaith education strengthens the separate faiths; and (3) these efforts should be initiated at an earlier age. Briefly addresses problems concerning curricula in religious institutions. (MJP)

Observes the philosophical and methodological aspects of Religious Studies. Considers the limitations of approaching religious thought and experience from a rationalist-scientific perspective. Includes a historical overview of the phenomenology of religious education with brief summations of leading theorists. (MJP)

Examines the role of polemical discourse (heated and confrontational arguments often aimed at an opponent) in the early formation of the Christian church. Maintains that these linguistic habits still exert a powerful and often destructive influence. Discusses several biblical stories in terms of polemical discourse and offers alternative…

Criticizes the notion that secular humanists and religious educators can equitably agree on a common or middle ground. Maintains that the so-called middle ground is often primarily secular ideology with a token acknowledgment of the validity of religious thought. Argues for a more open discussion with both positions receiving equal consideration.…