RELIGION: VOICE OF THE MULTI-VOICED SELF – VALUATING THE DIVERSITY OF RELIGIOUS AND NON-RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHIES OF LIFE AS PART OF THE MULTI-VOICED SELF

  • Ina ter Avest CHN University, Leeuwarden
  • Cok Bakker Utrecht University The Netherlands

Abstract

In this article we focus on a newly developed Dutch method of introducing pupils and students into the religious dimension of the various subjects of the school curriculum. We call this method of Religious Education (RE): Lessons in Apprehension (LiA). The innovative aspect lies in the awareness of personal commitment in addition to knowledge about various religious traditions as they are experienced in the present Dutch society. The development of commitment is an important task in identity development. The narrative perspective on identity fits inherently with the valuation theory and is historically rooted in this theory. The theoretical concepts of the valuation theory are at the base of the Lessons in Apprehension; lessons that aim at awareness and understanding of the role of religion and the religious dimension of school subjects. The pilot project shows that the method of LiA offers good opportunities to arrive at what Marcia (1982) has called Identity Achievement.
Published
2013-06-12
Section
Articles