Developing a Theological Vision in Education EdComms Aspiring Leaders Network Professor Trevor Cooling 20 th June 2018
Evangelical Theology l Let me define evangelical theology as a “higher form” of biblical interpretation in which one reads the gospel in the context of the whole of authoritative Scripture and responds to the gospel in the context of the contemporary situation. Kevin Vanhoozer in Evangelical Futures p65.
1. Start with Our Context and Clarify the Questions
Characteristics of a Secular Age l Science as the ultimate route to knowledge l Values relativism and values non-negotiables l Decreasing loyalty to institutional religion l Increasing proportions of “nones” l Fear of extremism l Secular or secularist public space? l Esoteric spirituality and interest in Big Questions
Church of England Vision Statement 2016 Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good
The Purpose of Education l Knowing stuff? l Success for the country andhe school? l Developing critical thinking? l Formation of Christian young people? l Making wise judgments?
The Church of England Flourishing as God’s Image Bearers I have come l Wisdom that you might l Hope & Aspiration have life in all l Community & Living Well Together its fullness (John 10:10) l Dignity & Respect
NICER Research
Our Research Findings l “Weird” l “Levering or shoe- horning in” l “Banging in a plenary” l The impulse to tell
What If Learning
Primary Character Project l Government values of respect, tolerance, community spirit and neighbourliness l Hospitality
Hospitality l Being good listeners l Able to explain why certain things are important to other people l Being good welcomers l Empathy (walking in others shoes) l Expressing their own views with respectful conviction l Able to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances in appropriate ways. l Welcoming the stranger l Generosity of spirit and action l Desire and ability to promote the common good
Investigating Durability of Rocks (Year 5) l Curiosity towards other people’s views. “We need to communicate well with each other as each other’s opinion counts”
The approach Seeing anew: How could a Christian understanding of God, people and the world provide a different way of seeing a lesson/unit? Choosing Engagement: How could the students engage with this new way of seeing? Reshaping practice: What changes to my practice do I need to make as a teacher? What if Learning…? Connecting Christian faith and teaching
The Framing Matters (Contextualisation)
Framing of Pedagogy with a Biblical Anthropological Vision not Delivery of Doctrinal Content.
Understanding Christianity l Text l Impact l Connections
2. Understanding of our Christian Knowledge
Positivist Christianity Young Woman
Relativist Christianity Old Woman or Young Woman? Or Goat?
Constructivism and Learning l Creativity l Change l Context and Diversity Can a Christian embrace these?
The Clash for Christian Teachers l Commitment to Truth leads them to positivism l Commitment to Learning leads them to relativism l Is there another way?
Critical Realist Christianity Old Woman or Young Woman? That’s an important question!
Critical Realist Learning l Ontological Realism : Framing by Christian truth interpreted through a biblical worldview l Epistemic Humility : Knowing as interpretation through the lens of worldview. Recognition of human fallibility. l Judgemental Rationality : Development of critical thinking and wise judgement.
3. Critical Realist Understanding of Biblical Authority
Learning as Responsible Hermeneutics (Anthony Thiselton) l Hermeneutics of retrieval l Hermeneutics of trust l Role of pre- understanding l Hermeneutics of self-suspicion
Learning as Contextualization (Kevin Vanhoozer) l A determinate meaning from the authoritative biblical teaching with inexhaustible significances for different contexts (musical score)
4. Our Response to Diversity
Responding to Diversity in our Schools? l Consensus: Conformity to an Agreed Position
Responding to Diversity in our Schools? l Coalition: Living Well Together
Two Mindsets for Christian Education Positivist Critical Realist l Transmission l Interpretation l Persuasion l Debate l Monolithic l Accepts diversity l Apologetic emphasis l Hermeneutical & Contextualization emphasis
Theological Method l Evangelical Futures: A Conversation on Theological Method l John G Stackhouse Jr. (Ed) l Baker Books, 2000.
Teaching End of Life Issues l Three arguments for and three arguments against assisted suicide l Fixed positions l The Bible as a source of proof texts l Christian ethics is all about winning arguments.
Hospitality as Holiness (Luke Bretherton)
Teaching End of Life Issues
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