Preparing Future Teachers of Religious Education: An Approach to Peaceful and Harmonious Coexistence Among the Followers of Different Religions

Abstract

AbstractIn general, schools were created by societies to serve the purpose of educating new generations toward peaceful coexistence to prevent, mitigate, and solve conflict using non-violent methods and approaches. Teaching religious education in schools could be an effective way of achieving peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions. Nowadays, this role has become very much needed as we are witnessing how religion has been used and hijacked by certain persons and ideologies only to control and to instill animosity, hatred, and fears among people, including the killing, discrimination, and destruction being carried out in the name of religion.Teachers of religions, especially in lower grades, play a significant role in teaching and modelling harmony, respect, and peaceful coexistence among their pupils as followers of different religions and in protecting and preventing the continual abuse of religions. However, teachers should be well trained, prepared, and qualified to perform such roles while they are in teacher training programs and before assuming their teaching roles in schools.This chapter is based on my experience in offering a course titled “Teaching Religious Education” to future elementary (Muslim and Christian) schoolteachers at Bethlehem University. The chapter describes both the theoretical and practical didactical approaches and techniques used in the course, challenges, benefits, lessons learned, and reactions of students.KeywordsReligious education: PalestineTeaching religionsTeacher preparationPeace educationChristian-Muslim relations