7388.21 - Religious Education I – Introduction

7388.21

Religious Education I – Introduction

15

The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to Religious Education as a school subject in the Faroese school system. The student will explore the possibilities and limitations which both the curriculum and the Primary Education Act place on the subject and the teacher. The student will also be introduced to pedagogies of religious education in theory and practice. The student will develop theoretical competence in teaching the basics in religion, worldview and ethics.

The course consists of five thematic sections and is divided in the following subjects: - Religious education as a subject in the Fólkaskúli (Primary Education Act and curriculum). - Pedagogies of religious education (theory and methods). - Religion (philosophy of religion with emphasis on classic issues within Christian theology. - Worldviews (worldviews with emphasis on Christian core values, humanism, science, nature and environment. - Ethics (ethics as described from biblical, Lutheran and modern frameworks. Ethics will also be described from an international context).

Lectures, independent study, group discussions, group projects, group presentations, individual presentations, written assignments and external lecturers.

On completing the cours, the student should be able to - discuss the structure of the religious education curriculum in the Faroese school system - discuss the purpose of religious education both in the Faroese school system and for society at large. The student must also be able to - critically evaluate different theories and methods in religious education - to argue why a particular approach is to be preferred over others in particular learning contexts Lastly, the student should be able to - distinguish between fundamental principles within Western religion. This includes: (1) Worldviews in relation to Christianity, science and humanism in the 21st century, (2) ethical schools in a biblical, Lutheran, modern and international context, and (3) fundamental theological issues within Western Christianity.

The student is required to submit a paper at the end of the course of 10-12 standard pages. Further information on the assessment of the course will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Internal

P-

Tummas Kannuberg