Religious education: The chance to lead young people to faith!

Religious education: The chance to lead young people to faith!

In recent years there has been a noticeable change in religious education - this is shown by the comment by Joshua Nieland, a 22-year-old IT specialist from Münster who volunteers at the parish of St. Laurentius Senden. He sees Catholic religious education not just as a subject, but as a valuable opportunity to inspire children and young people about the faith and Jesus Christ. Especially in an increasingly secular society, it is important to awaken curiosity and enthusiasm for faith. Nieland emphasizes that school is the perfect place to talk about and pass on the Catholic faith. This view can also be supported by the current religious curriculum in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is described as rich in content and offers numerous topics that give students the opportunity to discover and question their faith.

Nevertheless, Nieland notes that interest in traditional religious education is dwindling. Ethics and philosophy classes have become significantly more popular in recent years. He reports on an altar boy's child who says that there is hardly anything about Jesus in religious instruction. This comment may illustrate the growing gap between student expectations and the current faculty workshop. Despite his own positive experiences, including a fascinating religious education class at vocational school that covered topics such as the historical Jesus, the Gospels and the holy scriptures, Nieland found the religious education classes in the upper grades not appealing enough and voted him out.

A new course for religious education

Developments in religious education suggest that it is time for innovative approaches. The materials for religious education that the Calwer Publishing Group publishes reflect exactly this need. And so there are now a variety of teaching modules that range from ethical issues to human dignity. Books and booklets for different grade levels not only cover the classic topics, but also provide guidance on current discussions, such as euthanasia and migration. Teachers in particular will find valuable support in these materials when working on ethics topics. Even course books and workbooks for upper grades are now available that combine modern approaches with practical exercises.

The broad range of topics extends from theodicy to “migration and human dignity” so that a variety of perspectives can be integrated into religious education. It is important not only to educate students about religion, but also to encourage them to engage in critical debate. The teacher materials, especially those on bioethical topics, aim to provide targeted help so that teachers can make lessons lively and relevant. With more than 140 pages of a first edition from 2023 that addresses ethical issues, it could be a valuable tool for many teachers in their lesson preparation. A handbook for upper grades or special materials for vocational schools not only provide knowledge, but also suggestions for discussion.

Religious education is not just a place for learning, but a space in which values ​​and beliefs are taught. Nieland's personal experience shows that engaging lessons are crucial to inspiring young people. He describes religious education as one of the highlights of his school life, which strengthened his faith. Quotes from 1 Timothy and the Rule of Benedict reinforce the importance of listening and youth: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”

So if religious education focuses even more closely on the needs of students, perhaps it really offers an opportunity to reshape the connection between faith and everyday life and make it relevant for future generations.

For more information about teaching materials and ideas for religious education, visit Calwer and discover what's new!