Jane Erricker - Böcker

Religious Education is now identified as a shortage subject as a growing number of pupils in schools opt for it. The growing emphasis on children's moral and spiritual education, the DfEE's hunt for new teachers, OFSTED's calls for improvement and reinforced links with philosophy have pushed the subject into the spotlight. Based on research and partnership with schools this book examines and explains :* the role of Religious Education in the curriculum* the role of spirituality in children's lives* better teaching practice, giving practical examples.

Religious Education is now identified as a shortage subject as a growing number of pupils in schools opt for it. The growing emphasis on children's moral and spiritual education, the DfEE's hunt for new teachers, OFSTED's calls for improvement and reinforced links with philosophy have pushed the subject into the spotlight. Based on research and partnership with schools this book examines and explains :* the role of Religious Education in the curriculum* the role of spirituality in children's lives* better teaching practice, giving practical examples.

Spirituality can be understood within both a religious and secular context. Fuelled by the controversy that surrounds different understandings of human identity and notions of progress, knowledge and truth in modernist and postmodernist contexts, the concept of spirituality is a hotly contested topic of debate as to its relevance within contemporary culture and its meaning within religious traditions. This book aims to inform readers on this debate and contextualize it within these different frames of reference. It approaches the topic of spirituality with an identification of the major influences on contemporary thinking and presents a coherent framework of understanding that links divergent thinking into a common goal. Writings range across different thinkers and practitioners within established religious tradition, contemporary movements and those who operate within psychological and 'secular' understandings. Focusing on the question 'what does it mean to be human?' this engaging study attempts to overcome the divide between secular and religious understandings of spirituality.

Spirituality is most often understood as a religious term remote from the social interactions of everyday life and from political motivations. This volume seeks to show that this is an erroneous view and that, unless we attend to the spiritual as a motivating force in the lives of individuals and communities, we shall misconceive the nature of social change and political complexity and lack awareness of the value of writing and thinking on the subject in relation to contemporary issues. In a world dominated by globalization and late-capitalist free-market economics we face a situation of increasing complexity in human affairs. In this context, diverse notions of the spiritual in relation to culture and identity are critical forces that require careful attention. Contemporary Spiritualities is an innovative study based on research into the significance of influential writers and thinkers and diverse communities. It seeks to map influences on the notion of the spiritual in relation to the cultural and religious plurality of contemporary society. It also promotes the importance of attending to spirituality in both academic and a socio-politcal context.Clive Erricker is Reader in the Study of Religions at University College Chichester.Jane Erricker is Principal Lecturer and Director of Research in the School of Education at King Alfred's College, Winchester.

This introduction to meditation in education is written as a resource for class teachers and educators as a practical guide. Parents will also find it valuable, though its main focus is in using meditation in schools. The purpose of the book is to inspire and to provide concise, practical and general information, and techniques that can be considered and explored before introducing primary or secondary students to meditative experience.Meditation in schools covers such topics as:o information on schools where meditation is practiced, and the perceived resultsoissues and concerns involved with introducing meditation in schoolsothe relationship between mediation and other relaxation quieting techniquesoexperiential learning and a holistic approach to educationThis essential guide is written from the contributors' personal and professional practice experience and emphasizes how meditation can contribute to the school environment and to the curriculum, as well as developing the positive potential of students' hearts and minds. It includes a useful section on further reading.

This introduction to meditation in education is written as a resource for class teachers and educators as a practical guide. Parents will also find it valuable, though its main focus is in using meditation in schools. The purpose of the book is to inspire and to provide concise, practical and general information, and techniques that can be considered and explored before introducing primary or secondary students to meditative experience.Meditation in schools covers such topics as:o information on schools where meditation is practiced, and the perceived resultsoissues and concerns involved with introducing meditation in schoolsothe relationship between mediation and other relaxation quieting techniquesoexperiential learning and a holistic approach to educationThis essential guide is written from the contributors' personal and professional practice experience and emphasizes how meditation can contribute to the school environment and to the curriculum, as well as developing the positive potential of students' hearts and minds. It includes a useful section on further reading.

The relationship between Christian theology and music has been complex since the early daysof the Church. In the twentieth century the secularization of Western culture has led to furthercomplexity. The search for the soul, following Nietzsche’s declaration of the Death of God hasled to an increasing body of literature in many fields on spirituality. This book is an attemptto open up a conversation between these related discourses, with contributions reflecting arange of perspectives within them. It is not the final word on the relationship but expresses aconviction about their relationship. Collecting together such a variety of approaches allows newunderstandings to emerge from their juxtaposition and collation. This book will contribute tothe ongoing debate between theology, spirituality, culture and the arts. It includes contexts withstructured relationships between music and the Church alongside situations where spiritualityand music are explored with sometimes distant echoes of Divinity and ancient theologiesreinterpreted for the contemporary world.

This selection of papers is the first coherent presentation of spiritual education as a distinctive field of academic enquiry in its own right.