Discussions

The role of religious education in the schools has in many instances been a topic of controversy. Religion by its very nature with its various truth claims can be a source of tension within any community and especially a school community.  With many schools serving as a functionary of the state, educators have a real fear of church-state conflicts. In addition, many educators are insecure with the content of many religions not inherent to their culture. In part, this is based on the fact that many educators have been trained in secularized institutions of higher education. This secularization of education, which was an Enlightenment response to serious and valid concerns over religious hegemony, has limited the exposure of educators to religions both culturally and intellectually. This gap in religious literacy has profound consequences as students begin to navigate an increasingly globalized twenty-first century in which it becomes increasing apparent that “religion matters.” During this session, Dr. Hall, Director of Academics at Thales Academy, will provide a response to this problem of religious illiteracy by presenting curricular reasoning and pedagogical solutions for teachers and administrators to consider in their classrooms and on their campuses. This beginning dialogue can help both educators and their students begin to respond more positively to various religious tensions that occur around world through the promotion of global and cultural awareness and recognition of diversity.