Short description:

This book examines the possibility and necessity of critical thinking in religious education through the lenses of critical realism and the Christian doctrine of sensus fidei (?sense of faith?).

Long description:

This book examines the possibility and necessity of critical thinking in religious education through the lenses of critical realism and the Christian doctrine of sensus fidei (?sense of faith?). Drawing on Bhaskar?s original critical realism and data from a survey of over a thousand teachers in the Philippines, the author argues for a view of critical thinking based on components of ?disposition? and ?competence?. As such, critical thinking becomes the expression of a commitment to judgemental rationality and, in a Christian religious education, is guided by the individual?s sensus fidei. A philosophical and theological discussion of the process of coming to know in the religious domain, Religious Education from a Critical Realist Perspective also offers concrete recommendations on how to promote the practice of religious critical thinking in confessional religious education classrooms. As such, it will appeal to scholars of philosophy, theology and pedagogy with interests in religious education and curriculum development.

Table of Contents:

List of Figures

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

1. Critical Thinking in Catholic Religious Education

2. Critical Realism and Catholic Christianity

3. A Critical Realist Account of Critical Thinking

4. An Empirical Investigation of Teacher Epistemologies

5. A Case for a Critical Realist Catholic Religious Epistemology

6. Catholic Religious Critical Thinking as the Exercise of Sensus Fidei

Conclusion

Appendix

Works Cited

Index