ERIC Number: EJ1104248
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1361 7672
EISSN: N/A
Secular Ethics Education as an Alternative to Religious Education--Finnish Teachers' Views
Zilliacus, Harriet; Kallioniemi, Arto
Journal of Beliefs & Values, v37 n2 p140-150 2016
This study provides a Finnish perspective to international discussions on religious and worldviews education through the subject of secular ethics. This subject has been offered in Finland since 1985 throughout comprehensive schools and is primarily directed at students who are non-affiliated. Secular ethics education has scarcely been researched and is here investigated through secular ethics teachers' views. The results highlight key characteristics of the subject, which in teachers' views single out the subject from religious education classes. Key characteristics include gaining multiple perspectives on religions and worldviews, focusing on interactive, social and critical skills, and focusing on students' personal identities and growth as human beings. In addition, specific challenges and possibilities of the subject of secular ethics arise, which may be taken into consideration in developing a future integrative subject of worldview education in Finland.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Ethical Instruction, Religious Education, Teacher Attitudes, World Views, Global Education, Semi Structured Interviews, Elementary School Teachers, Qualitative Research, Educational Environment, Critical Thinking, Interpersonal Competence, Student Development, Barriers
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A