Category Archives: philosophy

Three basic educational questions

Posted on August 16, 2007 by igalindo

At a recent consultation I ran into a scenario that has come to symbolize for me what is wrong with much of what passes for “education” in congregations. I was being given a tour of the educational facilities by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Education, curriculum, philosophy, Sunday school, world view | 2 Comments

What makes a real teacher?

Posted on August 14, 2007 by igalindo

The following is excerpted from the book Myths: Fact and Fiction about Teaching and Learning by Israel Galindo. How well do you know fact from fiction? MYTH: Anybody can teach. Teaching is just communicating information, through effective verbal and instructional … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, teaching | 1 Comment

Avoiding “Fuzzy Thinking”

Posted on August 1, 2007 by igalindo

One of the things I strive for in my classes is to help students move from “fuzzy thinking” about matters of faith to the capacity to engage in “critical thinking.” Fuzzy thinking takes different forms, including, “devotional,” “rhetorical,” “metaphorical,” and … Continue reading →

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Religion and Cognitive Science

Posted on July 9, 2007 by mcanaday

David Sloan, in his book, Theological Correctness: Why Religious People Believe What They Shouldn’t, says “Cognitive science provides the best method we have for understanding religious behavior. Religion is the way it is because the mind is the way it … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, teaching, theology, world view | 4 Comments

What Bruner said

Posted on May 11, 2007 by igalindo

In 1966 Jerome Bruner, Harvard psychologist and educator, wrote: There is a dilemma in describing a course of study. One must begin by setting forth the intellectual substance of what is to be taught, else there can be no sense … Continue reading →

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The enduring concepts

Posted on May 1, 2007 by igalindo

I recently had a conversation with a couple of professors from other seminaries about our Christian education (C.E.) curriculum at BTSR. One was in the midst of creating an M.A. program in religious education and the other was in the … Continue reading →

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Know thyself . . . or not

Posted on April 11, 2007 by igalindo

The idea of self-differentiation has within it the hint of the idea of the necessity to “know thyself.” Evidence of this is the emphases on achieving insight into how we got to be who we are (family of origin work) … Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory, philosophy, world view | 1 Comment

Is God a spandrel?

Posted on March 7, 2007 by igalindo

The question: Are we hard-wired to believe in God? James Fowler, author of Stages of Faith, claimed that we are genetically disposed to have faith. And William James said, “All of our raptures and our drynesses, our longings and pantings, … Continue reading →

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On the perennial question of nature vs. nurture

Posted on March 6, 2007 by igalindo

I always enjoy Dalrymple’s pieces. Here he ponders on the current tendency to accept the notion that it is nature that determines behaviors. He wrote, “Our search for, and apparent willingness to believe in, or at least give credit to … Continue reading →

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