Review article
Modern Tendencies in the Society – Challenges for Religious Education in Schools
Valentina Mandarić
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
One of the basic characteristics of modern society is a constant change. Changes in the society are especially accelerated by great technological development, which brings changes in all segments of social life. Since religious education, in our case religious education in school, is performed in schools, the author analyzes in what way the social context, which is constantly changing, affects the religious education and the students. In the first part, the author analyzes some social phenomena that directly or indirectly affect the mentality, attitudes, values and the visions of life of children and young people, especially religion students. Among these phenomena special attention is given to the following: the marginalization of religion, the weakening of religious literacy, the suppression of the sacred and the promotion of the material vision of the world, the creation and promotion of a new anthropological matrix, the functionalization of knowledge, the privileging of the scientific method as the only meritorious in understanding and interpreting reality, the weakening of religiosity and giving a new role to religious education.
In the second part of the article, the author reflects on the position of religious education within the educational system and its contribution to achieving the humanization of modern man and society. Particular attention is given to the art of reading the "signs of the times" and the promotion of fundamental social and human values. Among the values he particularly stresses the importance of seeking and providing answers to fundamental existential questions, the raising of awareness and education for responsibility for the common good and the promotion of the human person in the sense of preserving its integrity. In the conclusion, the author brings up several important issues presented to the religious education in school, in the face of the challenges of the new curricular reform in Croatia.
Keywords
society; culture; social changes; education; religious education; religious education in school; knowledge
Hrčak ID:
147886
URI
Publication date:
3.11.2015.
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