Tension Field Research Articles

Dynamics of electrified liquid metal surface using shallow water model

A shallow water model that incorporates surface tension and electric field effects is developed to investigate the dynamics of an electrified liquid surface. The computational model is verified against the Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation and is applied to study the growth and damping of the electrified liquid surface. A linear wave analysis is performed under a shallow water theory assuming an analytic solution of the electric field, similar to the Tonks–Frenkel instability. The electrified liquid surface grows or dampens based on the balance of the electric field, surface tension, and gravitational forces. The numerical results obtained from the electrified shallow water solver are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.

Challenges and tension fields in classical instrumental group tuition: interviews with Swedish Art and Music School teachers

AbstractGroup teaching is rapidly spreading across the world, but little research has been conducted to investigate its impact on students’ musical abilities in comparison to inclusion in group tuition contexts. This article investigates how music teachers from the classical orchestra instrumental tradition discuss group tuition. Three focus group interviews were conducted with participants from one Art and Music School in Sweden. The results show a tension field between progression and inclusion as well as different views on the definition of these concepts. These differing views on teaching quality imply a balancing act for the different agents within the profession.

Numerical simulation and experimental research of electrospun polyacrylonitrile Taylor cone based on multiphysics coupling

Abstract In the electrospinning process, the Taylor cone, as the jet source, directly affects the jet movement and the quality of the fiber membrane. Therefore, to understand the formation mechanism of the Taylor cone intuitively, a multiphysics coupling model that comprehensively considers the gravitational field, electrostatic field, and fluid field is established, and numerical simulations are conducted in this study. First, we construct a level-set function and analyze the force of the droplet. The gravity, surface tension, and electric field force are coupled to the incompressible Navier–Stokes equation as volume forces, and the nonconservation of the droplet area is solved by approximating the Dirac function with a smooth function. Subsequently, the deformation of the electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Taylor cone under different process parameters is simulated. Finally, data obtained from the numerical simulation and the average diameter of the electrospun PAN fiber membrane are analyzed via gray relational analysis. The results show that the volume force is the key factor affecting the average diameter of the fiber membrane (the correlation is 0.934). This article provides an effective reference and basis for the analysis and control of the electrospinning process.

Easy-to-use formulas for predicting ultimate shear resistance and tension field distribution of semi-supported steel plate shear walls

Semi-supported steel plate shear wall (SPSW) is one type of highly effective lateral load-resisting member. However, the current researches on evaluation of ultimate resistance for semi-supported SPSWs are limited. In this paper, a general finite element (FE) model for the two-side connected, semi-supported and four-side connected SPSWs is developed and verified by existing experimental results. The FE results demonstrate that the mechanical behavior of the SPSW is controlled by the in-plane moments of inertia of the vertical boundary elements (VBEs). The hysteretic behavior of the semi-supported SPSW is between the two-side and the four-side connected SPSWs. The minimum initial lateral stiffness, shear resistance and energy dissipation ability of the semi-supported SPSW are 0.43, 0.24 and 0.29 times of the four-side connected SPSW, respectively. Meanwhile, the equations for determining the inclination angle and the span of the tension field in the two-side connected and semi-supported SPSWs are recommend. Furthermore, an easy-to-use formulas are developed for predicting ultimate shear resistance and tension field distribution of SPSWs with various wall-to-frame connections and validated by the experimental and numerical results. The formula analysis results show that the inclination angle and the span of the tension field in two-side connected SPSW vary from 13.3° to 35.8° and 0.53 to 0.76 times the span of the steel plate. The inclination angle and the span of the tension field in the semi-supported SPSW increase rapidly with the rise in in-plane moments of inertia of the VBEs and the height-to-thickness ratio of the steel plate, and then increase gradually to 45° and the span of the steel plate, respectively. Finally, a unified tension strip model for two-side connected, semi-supported, and four-side connected SPSWs is suggested.

Lateral behavior and PFI model of sinusoidal corrugated steel plate shear walls

This study focused on the lateral behavior of sinusoidal corrugated steel plate shear walls (CoSPSWs), which consist of a steel boundary frame and sinusoidal corrugated infill wall plates. Firstly, eigenvalue buckling analyses were conducted on sinusoidal corrugated wall plates under pure shear, and local as well as global shear buckling stress formulas were proposed. Nonlinear pushover analyses were then conducted on sinusoidal corrugated steel plate shear walls with different corrugation configuration, corrugation direction as well as influences from gravity loads. The results show that the lateral behavior of sinusoidal corrugated wall plates is obviously affected by the corrugation configuration and gravity load effects, but not much by the corrugation direction. Based on the shear slenderness ratio, sinusoidal corrugated wall plates could be classified into stocky, moderate and slender walls, with lateral load-resisting mechanism corresponding to shear yielding, inelastic shear buckling, and elastic shear buckling followed by incomplete tension field action, respectively. CoSPSWs with stocky wall plates tend to have both good lateral capacity and ductility, CoSPSWs with moderate wall plates would still have good lateral capacity but lower ductility, and CoSPSWs with slender wall plates would have good ductility but lower lateral capacity. Shear strength formulas were proposed for horizontal corrugated wall plates, not affected by gravity loads due to accordion effects, as well as vertical corrugated wall plates considering the gravity load effects. Plate-frame interaction (PFI) models were also proposed for horizontal and vertical CoSPSWs considering the gravity load effects.

Cyclic test and lateral resistant design of corrugated plate shear walls

To investigate the lateral resistant behaviour of corrugated plate shear walls (CPSWs), this paper conducted cyclic loading tests on three CPSW specimens with different infill panel configurations and boundary frame rigidities, in which the hysteretic behaviour, failure modes and the boundary column stresses were mainly analyzed. The effect of boundary column rigidity on the infill corrugated panel was then explored by using finite element analysis (FEA), and the design method for optimization of the corrugated panels was proposed. The tests revealed two typical lateral resistant mechanisms of CPSWs, namely in-plane shear yielding and tension field action after buckling respectively. The flexural rigidity demand of the boundary frame can be reduced for infill corrugated panels with the in-plane shear yielding resistant mechanism. To achieve a high-efficiency lateral resistant system, the corrugation profile of the infill panel needs to be properly selected, and the proposed recommendations for CPSWs can achieve in-plane shear yielding mechanism with stable lateral resistance, good ductility and energy dissipation capacity.

What is appropriate care? A qualitative study into the perceptions of healthcare professionals in Flemish university hospital intensive care units

AimThis study examines when healthcare professionals consider intensive care as appropriate care. BackgroundDespite attempts to conceptualize appropriate care in prior research, there is a lack of insight into its meaning and implementation in practice. This is an important issue because healthcare professionals as well as patients and relatives report inappropriate care in the intensive care unit (ICU) on a regular basis. MethodsA qualitative study was designed, based on principles of grounded theory. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses, doctors and doctors in training from three Flemish university hospitals. Analyses followed the Quagol method; insights were gained by means of the constant comparative method. ResultsHealthcare professionals described appropriate care as socially sustainable care, high-quality care, patient-oriented care, dignified care and meaningful care. They considered it important that care is not only proportional to the expected survival and quality of life of the patient and in line with the patient's or relatives’ wishes, but also that the pursuit of the care goals is proportional to the patient's suffering.Although healthcare professionals indicated the same elements of appropriate care, they were defined and interpreted in individual and therefore different ways. This diversity lies at the basis of fields of tension and frustrations among healthcare professionals. ConclusionAppropriate care is defined and interpreted in individual and therefore different ways. In order to decide which type of care is appropriate for a specific patient, a process of open and constructive communication in a team is recommended.

Experimental Study on Steel Plate Shear Walls with Partially Encased Composite Columns Composed of Thin Steel Plate

The steel plate shear wall structure has excellent seismic performance, mainly consists of embedded steel plate, horizontal boundary elements (HBEs) and vertical boundary elements (VBEs). Under the action of additional bending moment, the VBEs of SPSW often produce the failure mode of “hourglass specimen”. As a solution, the SPSWs proposed in this paper adopts PEC columns, which are composed of concrete filled between flanges of thin-wall channel steel, and transverse steel bars welded between flanges to prevent it from buckling. A slow cyclic test was conducted on two specimens of 1/3-scaled prefabricated SPSWs with thin steel plate composite section PEC column. According to the validated finite element method, the parameters including the height-thickness ratio of filled steel plate, concrete strength grade, bolt spacing and axial compression ratio were also studied. The results show that the new structure has high bearing capacity and good ductility. In addition, the PEC column has enough stiffness to form a good anchoring effect for the inner steel plate. The inner steel plate fully yields after buckling and provides bearing capacity and energy consumption through the action of tension field. The peak load of specimens with concrete has a higher level approximately 18% than the no-concrete specimen. The height-thickness ratio has a great impact on the post buckling performance of SPSWs. With the increase of height-thickness ratio, the ultimate bearing capacity of the structure will increase by 10% – 30%. Moreover, to give full play to the outstanding performance of prefabricated SPSW with PEC column, the value range of bolt spacing is suggested to be in the range of 120 mm – 60 mm.

Seismic behavior of CFRP-steel composite plate shear wall with edge reinforcement

In this paper, a CFRP-steel composite plate shear wall structure with the laying method of bolted connection plate is proposed. A theoretical model of CFRP - steel composite plate shear wall is formulated. The effectiveness of the design method is verified by the shear experiment of the connection. Subsequently, two 1/3-scale steel plate shear wall(SPSW) specimens are tested under a low cyclic load. Compared with the pure SPSW, the ultimate bearing capacity, stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity of the CFRP-steel composite plate shear wall are improved by 23%, 7.7%, and 4.2%, respectively. The finite element analysis agrees well with the experiment curves, and the failure mechanism in the CFRP-steel composite plate shear wall structure can be well understood. Finally, the effects of different CFRP laying layers, fiber orientation angles and aspect ratios on the performance of SPSW are compared and analyzed. Increasing CFRP laying layers and aspect ratios will improve the bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity, but when the thickness of CFRP is too large, the ductility performance will be reduced. When the aspect ratio is too large, the stress distribution is not uniform, the angle deflection of the tension field is more serious, and the performance development is not sufficient. An aspect ratio of 1–1.5 is recommended to use in practical engineering applications. Increasing the orientation angles between CFRP and the tension field can improve the ductility and energy dissipation capacity. When there is a multi-layer laying design, it is recommended to consider multi-orientation angle laying.

A literature review of content elements in supervision training courses

The main aim of this article is to explore, through a literature review, how five content elements identified in previous research (assessment, communication, ethics, feedback, and learning and supervision theories) are constituted in practical supervision settings and in educational supervision training for post-degree professionals. A further aim is to identify fields of tension in supervision when incorporating the elements in supervision. To address these aims, a literature review was undertaken with a focus on the content elements. The results show that the explored content elements have the potential to not only enhance supervision, but also point to the existence of generic supervision competences, which are valid for several professions. The results also present four fields of tension in supervision settings; these fields of tension imply challenges, such as the tension between theory and practice, and the tension between the supervisee’s autonomy and dependency. Based on the results, the article discusses practical implications for supervision training courses.

Диалоги о/в поле смыслов: к 120-летию со дня рождения Алексея Николаевича Леонтьева

Background. The paper is associated with the 120th anniversary of the birt of Alexey Nikolaevich Leontiev, acknowledged classic of the world psychology. This anniversary of the founder of a scientific school in psychology and of the department of psychology at Moscow State University has given rise to reflections on the “task for meaning” of Leontiev’s personality, his theory and its modern implementations. Objective. The study is a professional reflection on the importance of A.N. Leontiev’s personality and his activity theory approach for the psychological science of these days as well as the explication of meanings implied in the special thematic issue of this journal. Results. “The field of meanings” associated with A.N. Leontiev is being revealed through the analysis of cultural-historical, life and scientific contexts. The intertwined lines of A.N. Leontiev’s life activity are singled out: the scientific one (a fundamental theory, suggesting a holistic concept of human being), the social one (restoring intellectual environment), and the closely connected to the latter, emotional one (creating a specific “field of tension” which attracted colleagues toward this intellectual environment and generated a specific university atmosphere of freedom and diverse new ideas at the department of psychology at MSU. Dialogues and interactions of the activity theory approach with some theoretical approaches of our days are explicated. Conclusion. Having much in common with more recent approaches, A.N. Leontiev’s approach is a polisemantic one. This fact may serve as an explanation to the plurality of its interpretations in the present-day contexts within psychological science. The approach remains a significant resource of answers to the questions posed in psychology today, many decades after its creator passed.

Systematic approaches for sensor selection and integration – A systematic literature review

The continuous trend towards digitalization of products and processes in mechanical engineering requires an ever-increasing amount of sensor data. In order to acquire this data, sensory functions must be integrated into products and processes. This integration of sensory functions does not only include the actual sensor integration but also the preceding sensor selection as well as other supporting steps. It takes place in the field of tension between mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology. In order to analyse which systematic approaches and tools are available for developers and which topics are covered in current research, a systematic review of literature is conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. It is found that only a few systematic approaches and tools for sensor selection and integration are described in literature. Furthermore, there seems to be no uniform understanding of terms in this context. These results contribute to the identification of research gaps in the field of systematic approaches and tools for the integration of sensory functions.

Sozialkontakte und Compliance mit SARS-CoV-2-Distancing-Massnahmen im ersten Lockdown 2020 bei den Geflüchteten aus Afghanistan und Syrien in Wien

The article deals with the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and related measures on the social interactions of refugees from Afghanistan and Syria in Vienna during the first lockdown in March/April 2020. The focus is on the challenges for these vulnerable groups in the field of tension between the contact minimisation prescribed in the Corona regulations of the federal government on the one hand and cramped housing conditions, precarious labour market positions, homeschooling and the “digital divide” on the other. Further focal points are how refugees deal with the measures of “social/physical distancing”, its consequences in view of the colliding cultural norms, the extent of contact reduction and its causal factors. The empirical basis was provided by a quantitative online survey and qualitative interviews with refugees as well as experts from refugee support NGOs and organisations from both groups of origin, who were involved in the underlying project within the framework of a community-based participatory approach. Contrasting with the criticism sometimes voiced in the media that primarily certain groups with a migration background have been less compliant with the measures to contain the pandemic, a more differentiated picture is drawn. Above all, the factors of family status, age and housing conditions have had a strong influence on compliance with the distancing measures. The inaccessibility of public space, which is a particularly important resource for the refugees, as well as the discontinuation of social services offered by NGOs have particularly affected these vulnerable groups.

Parents as teachers: tension field in rural and urban scenarios of Chiapas, Mexico

Resumen A partir de la pandemia por Covid-19 y la suspensión de las actividades denominadas esenciales, entre ellas la escolar, la educación remota de emergencia constituyó la alternativa para la atención del alumnado, siendo los padres de familia o tutores, los responsables de realizar el acompañamiento educativo de sus hijos. En este escenario, el presente estudio analiza las experiencias de apoyo escolar en familias de alumnos de educación básica de Chiapas, México. La investigación se llevó a cabo desde una aproximación cualitativa hermenéutica, mediante la aplicación de entrevistas semiestructuradas a padres de familia. Los resultados se integraron en dos bloques temáticos: De WhatsApp, tareas, evidencias y envíos. Los senderos de la educación remota , que indaga sobre la modalidad educativa apoyada en medios digitales, la conformación de evidencias del trabajo de los alumnos y su evaluación; y el de El hogar como aula y el aula como hogar ; en que se examina la excepcionalidad de la vida escolar en el hogar. Se concluye que la función de los padres como auxiliares en la escolarización, constituye un paliativo al aprendizaje de sus hijos, en un contexto de desigualdad socio educativa que se profundiza en comunidades rurales, pero también, blande la esperanza de una reconfiguración escolar que alienta cambios futuros en su accionar y la vida democrática de las escuelas.

Creativity is not Essence but Existence!

The article offers a socio-historical approach to the problem of creative personality in polemic with the article by A.M. Dorozhkin and S.V. Shibarshina. Creative activity is considered not as a psychological process or an expression of cognitive abilities, but as a result evaluated by the professional scientific community and even by the entire society. The distinction between the psychological, historical and historical-epistemological interpretation of creativity is discussed. The authors argue that although the proposed approach has an explanatory potential for creativity as a socio-historical phenomenon, it reduces the nature of individual personalities and their role in scientific research to a public response to a new result. The personality of an author is getting vanished in this result, becoming only a label of some social achievement. Using the terminology of J.-P. Sartre, the essence of the author as a unique individual is reduced to his social existence as a scientist. The purpose of this existence is not the fulfillment of a vocation, but the implementation of a professional mission to promote science as a public good, which consists, among other things, in creating a field of intellectual tension. The scientist ensures the objective increase of public awareness of the painful points of history and modernity; critically analyzes global risks from ecology to security; and presents images of a possible and required future. Thus, creative science acts as a source for development through problematization, a factor of cognitive dissonance, a troublemaker, a potential violator of social stability.

“Women”

This keyword essay on "women" responds to heated debates surrounding the term “pregnant person” in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision and argues for the continued usefulness of “women” to Victorian studies. While “pregnant person” allows institutions and thinkers to signal their recognition that the population requiring reproductive services includes trans men and nonbinary people, the curtailment of reproductive rights is often fueled by misogyny, which cannot be conceptualized without “women” as a category. Here, we are witnessing the reemergence of a field of discursive tension: between the coalitional power of the term “women” as used by feminists, on one hand, and the feminist goal to normalize inclusive language to honor and make visible marginalized experiences, on the other. We want to highlight that, first, such categories need not be mutually exclusive and that, second, the category “women” remains relevant to Victorian studies. We advocate not for the ascendancy of the term “women,” nor its dominance over other, crucial terms such as “trans” and “queer,” but simply for keeping “women” in play. Doing so makes space for strategic forms of coalition, historically precise scholarship, the recognition of trans women's identities, and intersectional analyses.

TECTONIC DEFORMATIONS AND PALEOSTRESS FIELDS IN THE ROCK COMPLEXES OF THE PIENINY KLIPPEN BELT IN THE CITY OF SZAWNYCTA (POLAND)

Purpose of the paper is study of faults and folds and reconstruction of paleostress fields in rock complexes of the Pieniny Klippen Belt in Pieniny Mts. area (Southern Poland). Methods of field geological and structural research were involved, including the kinematic method with subsequent reconstruction of paleostress fields using the program Win-Tensor. The results. On the right bank of the Danube River in the south-western outskirts of the city of Szczawnytsia (Southern Poland), numerous fold and fault deformations, their kinematic types and structural patterns were studied in the large rootless block of the PKB. Paleostress fields of the thrust, normal and strike-slip kinematic types have been restored. In the inverse stress field, thrusts were formed on the border of competent and incompetent rocks. Drug-folds, mélange and broken formations zones were formed in the more ductile rocks of the lower block. In the normal-type stress field, the former thrusts were activated as normal faults and cuted by the ortogonal and oblique sinistral strike-slip faults. The kinematic sence of the thrusts changed to an oblique normal faults with a component of the sinistral strike-slip, in the bodering zones of the activated faults, drag folds ans s-type folds were formed. In the youngest stress field, the former thrust surfaces were activated as strike-slip ones. Shear deformations were also recorded along thrust-limiting orthogonal and oblique surfaces. Kinematic types of tectonic deformation and folded structures in the different parts of the studed rootless block vitnesses the rotation of the fault wings in the horizontal and vertical planes. The wavy shape of the surface of the movement of the rootless block may be the reason for the simultaneous existence of a field of compression and tension in its various segments. Scientific novelty. As a result of the research, the kinematic types of fault, their relationships and features of development in various paleostress fields were determined. The features of the structure of the thrust and the faults that cut them, the relationships of folded and faulted deformation are established. Changes of the kinematic types of faults in time from the inverse to the strike-slip type have been established. Practical impact. The obtained results complement the history of the formation of the Pieniny Klippen Belt and can be used to refine tectonic maps and select a geodynamic model of the region. Key words: Pieniny Klippen Belt, paleostress, thrust, strike-slip, mélange.

МАНІПУЛЯТИВНІ СТРАТЕГІЇ «ГАЗЛАЙТИНГ» ТА «ПОСТІЙНЕ РОЗЧАРУВАННЯ»У КОМУНІКАЦІЇНЕГАТИВНИХ ПЕРСОНАЖІВ РОМАНУ А.МАНДЗОНІ «ЗАРУЧЕНІ»

The manipulative strategies of "gaslighting" and "constant disappointment" in the communication of negative characters in A. Manzoni's novel "Betrothed" are analyzed. It has been established that implementation tactics of "gaslighting" are the imposition of value orientations with overemphasis and suggestions, while implementation tactics of "constant disappointment" are devaluation, distancing, emotional pressure, threats. The perlocutionary effect of using manipulative strategies "gaslighting" and "constant disappointment" is the resultant force of influence of mentioned tactics. Each of these tactics has specific linguistic markers of expression; however, all the tactics are interrelated. The manipulator's speech is characterized by using of prescriptive-directive speech acts that introduce values imposed by the manipulator, prohibitive-directive speech acts that realize value reorientation of the victim, suggestives that accentuate imposed values, and menasives being their functional purpose intimidating the victim and destabilizing her psycho-emotional sphere. Language means of expression the tactics of manipulative strategies "gaslighting" and "constant disappointment" are characterized by the following features: exaggerated negative evaluation of the victim "una rea, un'indegna, una scomunicata"; verbalization of neglecting the victim: "veniva corrisposta con uno sguardo sprezzante" "corrisposta con una noncuranza manifesta"; lexical units to indicate the physical isolation of the victim in a closed space: "clausura... stretta e intera; monastero", verbalization of minimizing communication with the victim and ignoring her "l'abbandono in cui era lasiata", "o non attaccava, o veniva corrisposta con uno sguardo distratto"; lexical units of emotional semantics to indicate the emotional alienation of the manipulator and ignoring the victim's desire for emotional connection: "seri, tristi, burberi", "insisteva, e tentava di famigliarrizzarsi; lexical units of emotional semantics to denote insecurity, oppression, fear of the victim: "rimaneva poi umiliata, e sempre più afflitta, il terrore"; "sommessamente e tremando"; "uno sguardo tra atterrito e supplichevole". The produced perlocutionary effect as a result of manipulative strategies is explained by the victim's desire to avoid cognitive dissonance in her mind, which is caused by conflicting feelings, emotions, values. Verbal and non-verbal behavior of the victim of manipulations shows her helplessness and passive role in communication. A. Manzoni's use of synonymous series and tropes creates a semantic field of tension that reflects, on the one hand, the confrontation between manipulators and the victim, and on the other, cognitive dissonance in the victim's consciousness. Мanzoni created synonymous series for the designation of the victim of manipulations that reflect doom «la nostra infelice», «povera innocentina», «sventurata» and hyperbolized negative evaluation of the victim by manipulators: «una rea», «un'indegna», «scomunicata». The other synonymous series are used for the designation of causation of will imposed by manipulator: «irrevocabilmente stabilita», «necessità fatale», «vocazione impostale» and for the designation of isolation of the victim: «prigionia – carceriera – guardiana – clausura – monastero». A.Manzoni uses metaphor «prigionia» and comparison «clausura era stretta e intera, come nel monastero» for the designation of Gertrude’s parents’ castle. Asyndeton is used by A. Manzoni, on the one hand, in the speech of manipulator for suggesting, on the other hand, to indicate cognitive dissonance in the mind of the victim overwhelmed by conflicting feelings. Gradation, on the one hand, is used in the speech of manipulators to increase pressure on the victim: «seri, tristi, burberi», on the other hand, to increase the emotional tension and state of despair of the victim: «un altro gastigo oscuro, indeterminato, e quindi più spaventoso». Antithesis is the trope par excellence for describing the confrontation between manipulators and the victims and is used: to denote asymmetric communication between manipulators and the victim: «una gran confidenza – l'abbandono»; to indicate cognitive dissonance in the victim's mind, which is caused by conflicting feelings, emotions and values: «il rimorso del fallo, e una tenerezza fantastica di divozione; l'orgoglio amareggiato e irritato». The use of antithesis with the second component being part of gradation produces reinforcing effect: «quel fantasma – seri, freddi, minacciosi». The main antithesis is the contradiction between what is desired and what is real, which the victim of manipulation finally realizes: «brillanti fantasie d'una volta – circostanze reali».

Synsedimentary compaction structure and its oil-gas significance

Syndepositional structure is mainly formed under the action of fault activity and sedimentary filling and compaction, and developed in the extensional normal fault descending wall in the tension field environment. In this paper, the concept, formation and development of syngenic structures are described, and the influence and significance of synsedimentary compaction structures on oil and gas are explored.

Drifting away from religion? A perspective from German teacher education

Due to the dynamic situations in Germany and other Western European countries, the break with religious traditions has been already completely achieved and a far-reaching spiritual-religious plurality has been formed. Against this backdrop of a multitude, in part contradictory, spiritual signs of the times, even prospective teachers of religion can no longer assume an already established and reflected spiritual-religious identity. The following article indeed will deeply explore and interpret personal and professional experiences through self-reflection and writing and relate these, for example, to religious, cultural, and social implications. In addition, it will reflect more closely the field of tension between pluralistic-secular life-world and (Christian)-religious traditions in which prospective teachers of religion find themselves and present a time-sensitive and addressee-oriented spirituality module supporting them in establishing their own spiritual-religious identity. It is hoped that this sustainable and communicable model serves to enable teachers of religion to communicate about it (with pupils) and to meet others’ religious identities in an open and empathetic way.