BETTER RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Abstract

I We need better methods of religious education in our churches. We do not need more of the kind of religious training that is being promoted by the average Sunday school today. Practically everyone is fully aware of this fact. We shall mention, therefore, new methods which might be introduced, and give some explicit directions about making the transition from the old to the new. One expression focalizes quite well the educational procedure we are emphasizing today: pupil centered education. Jesus pointed out this approach when he placed the child central in his plan of kingdom building. In other words, we are endeavoring to re-discover the child today and give him his rightful place in our system of religious education for the local church. There are those who at once disclaim any neglect of the child in their educational efforts. They say, we aim faithfully to teach the child every Sunday; we have a good attendance of children and youth at our Sunday school; our Sunday school is more popular than our regular church services. We reply that zeal on the part of most religious teachers for developing Christian life in children is not challenged in our analysis of present day procedures. We need much more than zeal in an educator. We need to educate in accordance with the best known principles of growth and development. In