Religious Education in Australia
Change is a fact of human life and evolution. One could even say that without change, there is no growth and therefore no life. In terms of religion, however, change is not always perceived in a positive light. Indeed, particular in terms of the Christian and other fundamentalist faiths, change is seen as something to be avoided; it is highly undesirable to change along with the world. At the basis of this basic lack of a positive attitude towards change and flexibility lies a fear of authenticity compromise. Traditional religious leaders and the devotedly faithful tend to resist change as an attempt by the "world" to devalue their faith in traditional values. Others in turn feel that the only way for spirituality to survive in the modern world is through flexibility and the ability to adapt to the needs and circumstances of the faithful. In Australia and in the country's Catholic education, the same duality of views among believers can be observed: some believe that religious faith should maintain its purity regardless of the cost. Others feel that change, even in religious faith, is a necessary condition for the survival of that faith in this world.
In terms of the factors of multiculturalism mentioned above, this could be problematic. According to the author, Australian society tends to compartmentalize religion into a single day of the week, and into a certain building visited only once per week. This can cause confusion for the individual in terms of his or her national and religious identity. On the other hand, the opposite opinion holds that social and political changes necessitates change in religious education and the church as well. This emphasis has taken a favorable position above the opinion of the need for renewal and change, and has implications for offering education via Catholic schools. Community brings teaching to life, as it were. However, the concept of community remains important in maintaining a religious identity in a dynamic and changing world. If students at either institution no longer feel that the church or school can teach content that is both applicable and valuable to the daily lives of individuals, they will tend to search for education elsewhere. The church no longer meets the needs of the faithful community, because it has not evolved to meet its needs. Indeed, both groups search for the fulfillment of their beliefs outside the confines of the church. The central message of Christianity is therefore lost in a quagmire of moral rigidity. It has however been seen above that many do not necessarily church attendance with faith. Indeed, the sense of community and living rather than theoretical faith play a more important role in the life of the faithful individual than church attendance.
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