Christian Education Research Articles

EVALUASI PROGRAM PEMBELAJARAN BAHASA INGGRIS DENGAN MODEL CIPP DI INSTITUT AGAMA KRISTEN NEGERI KUPANG

The English language skills of Christian Education Study Program students are still low. Therefore, this research aims to determine the effectiveness of English learning program. This research uses a qualititative approach with an evaluation model that focuses on context, input, ptocess, and product. The data in this research comes from interview of two English lecturers and six students who have taken English course in the semester one of 2022/2023 and documentation (curriculum, lesson plans, and journal class). The data collection techniques used were: interview and documentation. The result of the research showed that the implemementation of English learning in Christian Education Study Program had not been effective although the average of each class is above of 70. It could be seen: 1) evaluation context describes that the learning program has not been able to answer the program objectives; 2) evaluation input reveals that the study materials contains in the curriculum are still too general, teaching materials are not yet available to students, and the infrastructure cannot fully support the English language learning process; and 3) evaluation process asserts that the leaning tools are prepared after learning, learning process is carried using the old method, and the form of assignments is not yet project/ problem solving based.

ОПЫТ МИССИОНЕРОВ РПЦ В ЗАРОЖДЕНИИ ХРИСТИАНСКОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ У ОСЕТИН (1742–1793)

В публикации представлен анализ деятельности миссионеров РПЦ в зарождении христианского образования у осетин за период с 1742 по 1793 гг. Цель работы заключается в воссоздании целостной картины генезиса христианского образования миссионерами, выявлении их вклада в дело просвещения осетинского народа. На основе открытия новых архивных и документальных материалов в статье пересматривается позиция некоторых аспектов кавказоведческой науки, нивелирующей значение грузинских деятелей в культурном сближении русско-осетинских обществ. The publication presents an analysis of the activities of the missionaries of the Russian Orthodox Church in the origin of education among Ossetians for the period from 1742 to 1793. The aim of the work is to recreate a holistic picture of the genesis of Christian education by missionaries, to identify their contribution to the school architecture of the Ossetian people. Based on the discovery of new archival and documentary materials, the article reviews the position of some aspects of Caucasian studies, leveling the importance of Georgian figures in the cultural rapprochement of Russian-Ossetian societies.

The role of Christian faith in the reintegration of female prisoners

Aim: This study delves into the correlation between religious faith and the process of reintegration among women in incarceration. In Hungary, this subject is relatively understudied; however, international insights underscore the prominent role of religious convictions in shaping an individual’s predisposition towards criminality and their influence on prosocial conduct. Yet, the extent and contentious nature of its role in reintegration persist due to a lack of emphasis by societal institutions associated with detainees, disregarding the intricate sociological prospects embedded within religion and faith. These prospects, meticulously scrutinised by sociologists, encompass the maintenance and fortification of social order, the regulation of human activities, and more. An additional challenge arises post-release, where organisations and religious institutions involved in the spiritual rehabilitation of detainees lose contact with these individuals, impeding subsequent investigative efforts.Methodology: The data for our pilot study were gathered among residents of Kalocsa Prison in 2024. Employing the Shortened Aspiration Index, augmented by interviews, our research methodology sought to enrich descriptive statistical analyses through the nuanced exploration of interview content. Sample selection followed a randomised and voluntary basis (N: 46 individuals). Importantly, the outcomes derived from our study are not intended for generalisation but rather apply specifically to our sampled cohort.Findings: Our discernments indicate that, for the female detainees under scrutiny, faith and religious practices wield a positive influence on delineating life objectives. They also play a pivotal role in sustaining mental equilibrium, with noteworthy psychoeducational ramifications. During catechesis, knowledge enrichment extends beyond cultural dimensions to encompass moral teachings, fostering an understanding of the ethical values and frameworks essential for normative living.Value: Determining the criteria for the success of post-release reintegration proves elusive, given the nuanced and idiosyncratic nature of success for everyone. Factors influencing an individual’s psychological dynamics and behavioural patterns intricately interweave within a complex socioeconomic system. Thus, it is reasonable to assert that the precepts of Christian teachings, faith, and the spiritual and organisational scaffolding of religious practices can form integral components of a supportive framework. Acknowledging the reinforcing role of Christian faith, particularly among women, aligns with the 2022 census data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), which underscores a prevailing proclivity towards religiosity among women in contemporary Hungary.

A keresztény hit szerepe a női fogvatartottak reintegrációjában

Aim: This study delves into the correlation between religious faith and the process of reintegration among women in incarceration. In Hungary, this subject is relatively understudied; however, international insights underscore the prominent role of religious convictions in shaping an individual’s predisposition towards criminality and their influence on prosocial conduct. Yet, the extent and contentious nature of its role in reintegration persist due to a lack of emphasis by societal institutions associated with detainees, disregarding the intricate sociological prospects embedded within religion and faith. These prospects, meticulously scrutinized by sociologists, encompass the maintenance and fortification of social order, the regulation of human activities, and more. An additional challenge arises post-release, where organisations and religious institutions involved in the spiritual rehabilitation of detainees lose contact with these individuals, impeding subsequent investigative efforts.Methodology: The data for our pilot study were gathered among residents of Kalocsa Prison in 2024. Employing the Shortened Aspiration Index, augmented by interviews, our research methodology sought to enrich descriptive statistical analyses through the nuanced exploration of interview content. Sample selection followed a randomised and voluntary basis (N: 46 individuals). Importantly, the outcomes derived from our study are not intended for generalisation but rather apply specifically to our sampled cohort.Findings: Our discernments indicate that, for the female detainees under scrutiny, faith and religious practices wield a positive influence on delineating life objectives. They also play a pivotal role in sustaining mental equilibrium, with noteworthy psychoeducational ramifications. During catechesis, knowledge enrichment extends beyond cultural dimensions to encompass moral teachings, fostering an understanding of the ethical values and frameworks essential for normative living.Value: Determining the criteria for the success of post-release reintegration proves elusive, given the nuanced and idiosyncratic nature of success for everyone. Factors influencing an individual’s psychological dynamics and behavioural patterns intricately interweave within a complex socioeconomic system. Thus, it is reasonable to assert that the precepts of Christian teachings, faith, and the spiritual and organisational scaffolding of religious practices can form integral components of a supportive framework. Acknowledging the reinforcing role of Christian faith, particularly among women, aligns with the 2022 census data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), which underscores a prevailing proclivity towards religiosity among women in contemporary Hungary.

Purgatory and Hell in Medieval Female Mystics’ Visions

Death and the afterlife have always evoked both fear and hope among people. Consequently, they have endeavoured to gain a deeper understanding of what lies beyond life’s earthly realm. Christian teachings and the official doctrine of the Church offer a broad overview of this reality, leaving room for an expectation of a more detailed explanation of the fate that awaits individuals after death. Female mystics, particularly those who lived during the late Middle Ages, played significant roles in elucidating these destinies. Their visions and subsequent writings contain a wealth of details concerning the nature of eternal life, providing meticulous descriptions of the places and events that unfold after death. This article delves into their visions of purgatory and hell, examining their relationship with the official Catholic doctrine.

The Spiritual Fruits of the Desert Fathers (1)

In the 4th century, Christianity was officially acknowledged as the state religion of the Roman Empire, and it started to gain prominence worldwide without facing persecution. However, some individuals believed that this newfound religious glory contradicted the teachings of Christ. As a result, they willingly embraced asceticism and withdrew to deserts like Egypt to lead a devout and spiritual existence. The individuals in question are commonly referred to as the Desert Fathers. They sustained themselves by toiling under the scorching heat during the day and enduring the frigid desert temperatures in the early morning and at night. They devoted their time to reciting the Bible and tending to the well-being of their fellow monks, who resided in solitary huts nearby. In doing so, they fostered a sense of spirituality in their desert community. This paper aims to analyze the spirituality of the Desert Fathers and apply the valuable insights it offers to contemporary life. By dividing it into the facets of fruitfulness, humility, obedience, love, forgiveness, humor, poverty, solitude, and community, their spirituality can be better understood. This study will only analyze the first four areas, while the remaining five areas will be addressed in a future paper.

Interpret The Conversation of The Lord Jesus in the Gospel of John Heuristic Approach

The Gospel of John contains several individual conversations.The conversations included Nicodemus, a Samaritan woman, and a Man born blind. To interpret the content of the conversations, the author uses a Heuristic reasoning approach; the findings of the study show the benefits and depth of heuristic reasoning, especially the content of the conversation and its application in Christian education services.

텍스트 마이닝을 활용한 종교교육학 연구동향 분석: 불교교육학과 기독교교육학을 중심으로

[Objective] The purpose of this study is to analyze research trends in Buddhist and Christian education using text mining techniques.
 [Contents] This study applied Python text mining techniques to automate much of the research process and utilized ChatGPT's API for tasks such as summarizing papers and extracting topics. Academic papers and theses were automatically collected from riss.kr using keywords ‘Buddhist education’ and ‘Christian education’, followed by preprocessing to remove duplicate and irrelevant papers. Trends in research by year and academic society were visualized and analyzed. Through processes such as morphological analysis, noun extraction, and paper summarization, the study identified research trends using keyword analysis, text network analysis, and topic modeling techniques.
 [Conclusion] Research in Christian education was approximately ten times more abundant than in Buddhist education. While research in Christian education is conducted diversely by the KSCRE and various Christian universities, Buddhist education is mainly led by the KASRE and Dongguk University. Keyword analysis and topic modeling revealed that research in Buddhist education focuses on philosophical and abstract topics such as intellectual practice, meditation, ethics, and death, whereas research in Christian education tends to focus on concrete and practical dimensions such as faith in the family, educational curriculum, and career guidance.

Sacrifice in Judaism and its Challenges to Christian Religious Worship in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis

This comparative analysis explores the concept of sacrifice in Judaism and its challenges to Christian religious worship in Nigeria. Sacrifice holds significance in both faith traditions, influencing worship practices in diverse ways. The study focuses on theological implications, historical contexts, and contemporary relevance of sacrificial practices in Judaism and Christianity. In Judaism, sacrifice historically played a central role in religious worship, with rituals of animal offerings serving as means of atonement, thanksgiving, and communion with God. The Hebrew Bible outlines detailed instructions for sacrificial practices, emphasizing purity, obedience, and spiritual intent. However, with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the practice of animal sacrifice ceased, leading to new interpretations of sacrifice within Jewish theology. In Nigeria, Christianity has become dominant, coexisting with traditional religious practices involving sacrificial offerings to deities and spirits. The introduction of Christianity in Nigeria has presented challenges to traditional sacrificial practices, resulting in theological debates, cultural conflicts, and shifts in religious identity among Nigerian Christians. The tension between traditional sacrificial rituals and Christian teachings on sacrifice has influenced religious worship practices in Nigeria, showcasing the complexities of religious syncretism and cultural adaptation. This analysis examines the challenges that the concept of sacrifice poses to Christian religious worship in Nigeria, exploring how the legacy of sacrificial practices in Judaism influences Christian perspectives on sacrifice, redemption, and divine worship. By comparing sacrificial traditions in Judaism and Christianity, this study aims to deepen understanding of how religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and theological perspectives interact and evolve in diverse religious contexts. Keywords: Sacrifice, Judaism, Christianity, Religious Worship, Nigeria, Comparative Analysis, Theology, Rituals, Syncretism, Cultural Adaptation

크리스천부모의 리더십코칭 역량계발을 위한 사례연구: ‘캐롤리더선생님’ 프로그램 활용

The purpose of this study was to develop the leadership coaching competence of Christian parents and analyse the effectiveness of the <Carol Leader Teacher> programme developed for Christian teachers based on CAROL (2009), a Christian leadership model, and GOD 4N (2019), a Christian leadership coaching model. To do this, 11 Christian parents (3 fathers and 8 mothers) were interviewed to see how the Caring Teacher programme was restructured and how the biblical texts used in the Caring Teacher programme were adapted to suit parents. For this purpose, we conducted a validation process with three people, including one master coach and two PhDs in the field of child welfare and a professional coach of the Korean Coach Association (KPC), and confirmed that a total of 52 messages on 'holiness' and 'education' could be composed. The research methodology included recording and transcribing everything that happened during the coaching process and analysing the data using the word cloud analysis method. In addition, to understand the pre- and post-study differences, the participants were asked to check their faith scores using the 153 Coaching Pepper and compare them with the results of the study. The results showed that the pre-test score was 150 out of 950, while the post-test score was 120 out of 150, showing a significant difference. This suggests that the 'Received Word Coaching' method of the Caring Teacher programme could be applied to all Christians, not just Christian parents, in the future.

Syncretism and Cultural Resilience: The Coexistence and Evolution of Traditional Itolimin and Christian Burial Practices in Esanland, Nigeria

Purpose of the Study: This research aims to uncover how traditional second burial rites coexist with and have adapted to Christian funeral norms, reflecting the socio-religious negotiation in a postcolonial context. Methodology: Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, the study gathered data through semi-structured interviews with local chiefs, elders, and adults, alongside observations and an extensive review of related literature. Participants were selected based on their deep knowledge of Esan customs and involvement in the Itolimin practice. Main Findings: The study revealed that Itolimin, while embracing certain Christian elements, remains a vital cultural practice that reinforces the community's moral and social order. The rite's evolution showcases the Esan people's ability to blend traditional and Christian values, thereby preserving their cultural identity amidst religious changes. This syncretism illustrates the community's broader cultural resilience and adaptation approach in a rapidly changing religious landscape. Applications of this Study: Insights from this study apply to the broader discourse on funeral practices in postcolonial societies, providing a framework for cultural preservation amidst religious transformation. It is relevant for policymakers and public health officials regarding community health and burial practices. The findings also offer a basis for developing contextual theological education that respects indigenous beliefs within Christian teachings. Novelty/Originality: This study provides a unique contribution to the understanding of funeral rituals within African postcolonial societies by documenting the living tradition of Itolimin. It highlights how syncretism acts as a dynamic cultural force, shaping the way communities like the Esan negotiate identity and religious practice in a contemporary Christian-dominated context.

Hakikat Pendidikan Kristen Dalam Gereja

The church is a community of people who believe in Christ. Christ's atonement for every believer should be a means of self-actualization that is superior in terms of character, nature, and critical thinking towards everything, so that he can live his life wisely in the midst of this world. Therefore, every believer needs to be equipped with planned, directed and continuous guidance in order to give birth to every member of the congregation who is spiritually and physically established. To achieve this noble hope, Christian education in the church is the right space to develop and guide every believer to become a people who can respond to God's call on their lives according to their talents and abilities. Therefore, the church is expected to be able to actualize its role in developing the people through Christian education. Christian education is expected to be able to provide understanding to church members so that they can use Christian education as a basis and means for forming people into members of God's kingdom, who are able to be salt and light in today's world. Christian education is a form of fertilizing the minds of believers with the Word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit through a number of learning experiences carried out by the church, for all believers who are discipled to know Jesus Christ. In the study of this topic, it will be discussed as follows: a). The Nature of Christian Education in the Church; b). The Goals of Christian Education in the Church and c). Forms of Christian Education in the Church.

“That Would Be Undemocratic”: Individuality and Educational Differentiation in C. S. Lewis’s “Screwtape Proposes a Toast” (1961)

This essay surveys C. S. Lewis’s statement and critique of British education as found in “Screwtape Proposes a Toast” (Lewis, 1961) and other works within his oeuvre. In this short story, Lewis elaborates on the state of education in postwar English society through the eyes of his protagonist: a demon. In distilling Lewis’s Christian philosophy of education, the essay explores individuality, differentiation, and various correlated themes in juxtaposition to extant literature on twentieth-century educational reform. Having the educational impact of Christian tenets as the common denominator, the essay concludes with individuality and differentiation standing at the core of Christian education.

Plantation economy religion: Black male experiences with religious antiblackness in predominantly white conservative Christian schools

ABSTRACT Research about Black boys in predominantly white conservative Christian schools has centered on their racialized experiences. For Black males, these experiences have been traumatic because their white Christian teachers and classmates have demonstrated anti-black racism through the use of derogatory language, social exclusion, and stereotyping. Researchers have focused on this anti-blackness with little consideration for the religious environment in which these events transpired. Hence, this article aims to analyze the role religion played in the anti-blackness because these events do not happen in a vacuum but in a religious context. From this research emerged a religious approach that we termed Plantation Economy Religion that became the central breeding ground for the development and manifestation of anti-blackness. This religious approach created a complicit relationship between anti-blackness and religion, which manifested in a lack of physical and cultural representation during school worship and enabled people to weaponize religion through plantation economy theology.

게임기반학습이 신앙성숙에 미치는 영향에 대한 합의적 질적 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore and analyze the factors determining the impact of game-based learning on the spiritual maturity of Christian university students.
 Methods To achieve this, Christian university students in Daegu Metropolitan City were selected. From December 2022 to February 2023, a Minecraft-based educational program on the life of Jesus was conducted, followed by interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method.
 Results The analysis yielded three domains, 14 categories, and 35 core concepts. The main findings are as follows. Firstly, game-based learning impacted the cognitive aspects of faith maturity, including understanding of Jesus's life and ministry, geographical, historical, and sociocultural knowledge of the time of Jesus, and integrated comprehension of the Bible. Secondly, game-based learning influenced the emotional aspects of faith maturity, including feelings of gratitude towards Jesus, remorse, love, reflection on faith, and shame. Thirdly, game-based learning was found to be effective in the volitional aspects of faith maturity, such as following the life and teachings of Jesus, examining and improving one's faith life, reading the Bible, loving one's neighbor, and exploring places of faith.
 Conclusions This study confirmed that game-based learning, still in its initial stages in the field of Christian education, can become an asset to Christian education by exploring the impact it has on learners' spiritual maturity through university students who have experienced game-based learning. It is also expected to serve as basic material for expanding and developing the realm of Christian education research. Finally, the study offers suggestions and directions for follow-up research.

Creationism - a Pseudoscience or Pseudoreligion

The research is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of spiritual culture of Modern times - creationism. Authors analyze the causes of creationist teachings, as well as develop a classification of forms of creationism. As such, the following are distinguished and analyzed: biblical creationism, scientific creationism, theological evolutionism, teleological creationism, alterism, missionary creationism. Biblical creationism is a literal understanding of the texts of the Bible relating to the creation of the Earth and man. Scientific creationism is an attempt by individual scientists to combine scientific knowledge with religious beliefs. It gathers scientific evidence in favor of the biblical narrative, and, at the same time, rational arguments against the scientific theory of evolution. On the contrary, theological evolutionism, especially in the form of concordism, tries to reconcile the scientific and religious view of evolution. This is achieved through the interpretation of Biblical symbols through modern scientific concepts, or by the creation of a new pseudo-religion (for example, Teilhardism). Teleological creationism, in the modern form of Intelligent Design theory, popular in Western Protestantism, using the data of natural sciences, criticizes the foundations of the theory of biological evolution, thus demonstrating the gap of natural causality in order to justify the supernatural purposefulness of the Universe. Alterism asserts that the very nature of the world before original sin was different, therefore, the current knowledge of nature cannot correspond to the original plan of God reflected in the Bible. For the first time, highlighted and explored in this work, missionary creationism seeks to interpret the Bible from the point of view of concepts of modern science in order to bring a person with an already formed scientific picture of the world to faith. It is shown that most of the above forms demonstrate a pseudoscientific or pseudo-religious essence. The authors make an assumption about the origins of creationist teachings rooted in the introduction of elements of Neoplatonic philosophy into Christian teaching. The seeming contradiction between science and religion in understanding the evolution of nature finds its explanation through the disclosure of creationism's claim to understand the world as a "thing in itself".

The Beginning of Liturgical Formation in Romania: The First Liturgical Manual in the Romanian Language

While different political realities shaped the three Principalities (Moldova, Wallachia and Transylvania) that later formed Romania (1918), the spiritual unity of the Romanian people has been nourished since the Middle Ages by the Eastern Christian faith. Situated at the intersection of cultural and religious currents, Romanian spirituality has often interacted with that of the Ruthenian Slavs, Serbs or Bulgarians, Greeks, Hungarians, Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists. For this reason, the first Romanian literary works were translations or adaptations that were always under the influence of or produced in opposition to these cultures and beliefs. This study investigates, from a liturgical and doctrinal perspective, the first manual of liturgical training, published in the Romanian language at Iași (1697) translated by Jeremiah Cacavelas: Holy Teaching about the Holy and Divine Liturgy. Considered by some specialists to be an adaptation of similar works by Simeon of Thessalonica or Nikolaos Bulgaris, the manual presents in the form of questions and answers the teaching and spiritual understanding of the Orthodox Church regarding the Holy Liturgy. The manual also explores other Orthodox Christian teachings regarding the church building, angels, the nature of Grace, liturgical vestments, feast days and so forth. Throughout the volume, Jeremiah Cacavelas does not avoid controversial theological subjects that divide the East and West concerning transubstantiation, the nature of Grace and so forth. Cacavela’s manual became quite widespread in the Romanian Provinces; in some areas it was used until the 19th century.

Humanitarian Teachings of Christianity and Islam

The aim of this research is to provide insight into the concept of humanitarian teachings in Christianity and Islam as a basis for understanding ethical values, social solidarity and contribution to the development of human welfare. By focusing on the two major religions, Christianity and Islam, it provides a comprehensive overview of the similarities, differences, and potential contributions to humanitarian teachings of the two. In the context of Christianity, it teaches the concepts of love, mercy and social responsibility found in the Bible. Meanwhile, Islam teaches the concept of brotherhood, justice and a caring society. The method used is text analysis, literature studies, and interviews with religious scholars to gain in-depth insight. It is hoped that these results will provide a better understanding of Christianity and Islam.

Creationism and climate skepticism: power and public understandings of science in America

This FORUM article is written in response to ‘Evolutionary Stasis: creationism, evolution and climate change in the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum’ by Jenna Scaramanga and Michael J. Reiss published in CSSE in 2023. Starting from a sociological rather than pedagogical standpoint, the article aims to situate Accelerated Christian Education’s curriculum in relation to evolution and climate change in its broader context. This broader context comprises a national situation of Culture Wars where views on science and religion are politically polarized and morally inflected. Creationism and climate change denial/skepticism occur together and connect to right-wing politics. Climate change denial also clearly connects to corporate interests. Struggles for political, economic, ideological, and epistemic power all pertain. Reference is then made to recently collected focus group data to illustrate how non-creationist publics may also define science narrowly and inaccurately and yet still support it. The influence of evolution and climate change denialists must not be overstated. However, the harm of inaccurate, pseudoscientific education also requires examination. Nothing less than the Earth’s future is at stake, and education is a key battlefield. Science educators have an important role to play, working with patience, empathy, and awareness.

Postmodernism and the Challenges of a Christian Education Worldview in Higher Education in Indonesia

Postmodernism gravely calls into question the feasibility of a modern educational enterprise since postmodern relativism appears to undercut the possibility of justification, both inside and outside of education. As a result, some educators believe that postmodernism is the declared end of education. This article presents a biblical worldview as the unifying theme for the combination of knowledge and religion in higher education. The biblical story has significance for the Christian faith and Christian ethics and serves as a strong basis for a complete worldview to face the challenge of the postmodern world. According to this viewpoint, the biblical story offers solutions to the most important problems in life, such as: Who are we? We are where? What is the issue? What is the remedy? The biblical story offers a strong basis for an all-encompassing worldview that responds to these concerns and aids in resolving any potential separation in our lives were postmodern gives questions in higher education.