Course Code: BME02

Christian Education for Social Change

BD IV, Semester I, 2 Credit Hours, College Paper

Course Objectives

1. To help the students to understand and evaluate the relationship between education and social change.
2. To help them to reformulate Christian education in relation to their contexts, in order to become agents of change in the Church and Society.
3. To enhance the understanding of the Biblical and theological foundations for Christian involvement in social change.
4. To introduce the epistemological foundations of liberating praxis.

Methods

• Lectures
• Group Discussions
• Exposures

Course Requirements

• Final Examination 60%
• Internal Assessment 40%

Course Outline

1. I. Education and Social Change
   1. Education and Christian Education
   2. Christian Education and Social Change
2. II. Biblical Foundations of Christian Education for Social Change
   1. Implications of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God for social transformation.
   2. The social implications of the teaching ministry of Jesus and the Apostolic Church.
3. III. Theological Basis for Christian Education and Social Change
   1. Human Beings in the World
   2. God in the World
   3. The Church in the World
   4. Great Commission and the Teaching/Service Ministries of the Church (Relationship of Didache and Diakonia to Evangelism/Mission)
4. IV. Education and the Prevailing Dominant Social Order and Worldviews: A Critique
   1. The role of civil society institutions such as family, education, media, religious and social practices, etc. in legitimizing and perpetuating the existing social order.
   2. The role of educational institutions such as schools and colleges including theological institutions in constructing stereotypical role models of persons and structures to perpetuate the existing unjust social order through curricula, admission and appointment policies, governance, values, norms and the like.
5. V. Education for Liberation Praxis: A Basic Orientation to the Contributions of the Following for Liberative Praxis
   1. John Dewey
   2. Paulo Freire
   3. Postmodern epistemology
6. VI. The Implications of Liberating Praxis for Christian Education
   1. Christian Education: An activity of faith formation and social change
   2. Christian Education: An activity of empowerment of people
   3. Christian Education: An activity of mutual, critical enrichment
7. VII. Christian Education and Contextual Realities
   1. Poverty
   2. Christian Education and Dalit/Adivasis/Tribal Liberation
   3. Christian Education and Gender Justice
   4. Christian Education and Ecological concerns
8. VIII. Contemporary Contextual Challenges to Christian Education for Social Change
   1. Context
   2. Objectives
   3. Content
   4. Method
   5. Process
   6. Facilitator and the Learner

Bibliography

Essential Readings

• Desrochers, John. Education for Social Change. Bangalore: Centre for Social Action, 1987.
• Freire, Paulo. Education for Liberation. Bangalore: ECC, 1983.
• Gopal, Arun, ed. Christian Education in a Multi-Faith Society. Chennai: Christian Education Dept, CSI Synod, 1996.
• Kalathuveetil, Thomas. Shared Praxis as Christian Education. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1982.
• Kuppuswamy, B. Social Change in India. 2nd ed. Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1975.

Suggested Readings

• Abraham, K.C. A Purposeful Education for All. Bangalore: SCMI, 1989.
• Boys, C. Mary. Education in Faith: Maps & Vision. San Francisco: Harper & Row Publications, 1989.
• Dietrich, Gabriele and Bas Wielenga. Towards Understanding Indian Society. Madras: TTS, 1998.
• Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York: Herder & Herder, 1976.
• Gore, M.S. Education and Modernization in India. Jaipur: Rawat Publications, 1982.
• Groom, H. Thomas. Christian Religious Education: Sharing our Story and Vision. New York: Harper & Row Publications, 1980.
• Harris, Maria. Parish Religious Education. New York: Paulist Press, 1979.
• O’Hare, Padraic, ed. Education for peace and justice. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1983.
• O’Hare, Padraic, ed. Tradition and Transformation in Religious Education. Birmingham/Alabama: Religious Education Press, 1979.
• Palmer, Martin. What Should We Teach?. Geneva: WCC, 1991.
• Paulus, Vimla. Introducing Christian Education. Madras: CLS, 1986.
• Punnpadam, Thomas, ed. Social Involvement and Seminary Formation. Bangalore: Kristu Jyothi Publication, 1992.
• Ramakrishnan, P.S. Ecology and Sustainable Development. New Delhi: National Book Trust, 2001.
• Seymour, L. Jack, ed. Contemporary Approaches to Christian Education. Bangalore: Kristu Jyothi, 1992.
• Srinivas, M.N., et al., eds. Dimension of Social Change in India. Madras: Allied Publisher, 1977.
• Taylor, J. Marvin. An Introduction to Christian Education. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1986.
• Toton, Suzanne C. World Hunger: The Responsibility of Christian Education. New York: Orbis Books, 1982.