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Religion, education and conflict in Northern Ireland
Published in:
Journal of Beliefs & Values: Studies in Religion & Education, Vol: 26, Page: 123-138,Carfax Publishing Company
Aims & Objectives:
This article discusses the contribution of the churches and of Christianity to the realization in Northern Ireland schools of legitimate and progressive educational values-tolerance, moral integrity and civic virtue.
Abstract:
The aim of this article is to re-evaluate and reaffirm the contribution of the churches and of Christianity to the realization in Northern Ireland schools of legitimate and progressive educational values such as the cultivation of tolerance, moral integrity and civic virtue. Implicit in this is a critique of educational initiatives that seek to undermine the influence of Christianity in schools. There is also discussion of the reasons why the increasing secularization of education in Northern Ireland should be resisted. The paper begins with a brief historical overview of the ongoing tension between religious and secular influences in education and notes the ways in which developments in education have tended to marginalize religion and to denude public education of Christian religious content and influence. Critical attention is then given to the role of religion in the Northern Ireland conflict, for it is the conviction that the conflict is religious that provides much of the stimulus for efforts to secularize education and schools. This is followed by some brief comments on the positive role that religion can play in religious education and in schools. The article concludes with a brief review of the reasons why a proper balance between secular and religious influences in schools in Northern Ireland should be maintained.
Authors:
L. Philip Barnes
Study Type:
Non Study Papers » Discussion paper, review, commentary, letter »
Notes:
Article 13617672 Accession Number: 17843160; Barnes, L. Philip 1; Email Address: philip.barnes@kcl.ac.uk; Affiliations: 1: King's College London, UK Source Info: Aug2005, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p123; Note: Publisher Information: Carfax Publishing Company.; Subject Term: CHRISTIANITY; Subject Term: MORAL education; Subject Term: RELIGION & sociology; Subject Term: RELIGIOUS education; Subject Term: CHURCH; Subject Term: RELIGIONS; Subject Term: NORTHERN Ireland; Number of Pages: 16p. Document Type: Article
Keywords:
Geography:
Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland)