The purpose of the current study was to explore the meanings, regulation, and sources of male teacher empathy in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools in Israel from a cultural perspective. More specifically, the study posed three questions: (1) What are the particular meanings attached to empathy by ultra-Orthodox teachers? (2) How do ultra-Orthodox…

Informed by social and cultural perspectives, this article examines the religious literacies of sixteen Latter-day Saint young adults. Religious literacy for them was a deeply embedded religiosocial experience involving family, friends, and others associated with the faith (people); activities, events, and courses they participated in (programs);…

Should the state provide religious education in public schools; if yes, what form should it take? I argue that alertness to epistemic injustices that religious persons can suffer can help us answer those questions and can provide grounds for fostering religious literacy. I argue that, if religious persons can suffer testimonial injustice, we…

This paper focuses on two elements of the Passover Seder ritual and their connection to Piagetian education theory. After outlining Piaget's theory of genetic epistemology and its implications for education theory, it focuses on Sigel's distancing theory, which touts question asking as a tool for presenting information to students. This paper…

Liberal arts courses sometimes face the question of whether core texts can actually 'educate character' or 'care for the soul' in the Socratic sense. The "Bhagavadgita" addresses these issues from a Hindu perspective. But at the same time, the educational function of a religious core text changes decisively when transposed into a liberal…

Despite the growing awareness of child abuse, little academic research examines religious abuse and trauma during childhood. This paper constructs an interdisciplinary and intersectional heuristic of childhood religious trauma and abuse (RTA) by weaving together psychological and theo-philosophical literature with Rebecca Nye's theory of childhood…

This article introduces the category of spiritual intelligence (SI) as a vital way for religious education to cultivate knowledge and practical wisdom. SI fosters human interconnectedness and promotes a sense of belonging for learners. It helps strengthen learners' identities and creates a just learning environment. The article proposes a version…

This article explores religious and spiritual influences that motivate adolescents to show kindness toward their peers who are outside their friend group. Findings from semi-structured interviews with 21 students from eight Christian high schools show the importance of presence, modeling, resources, and education for supporting adolescent…

This study explored the spiritual needs of Christian families by surveying and holding focus groups with parents and congregational leaders. We discovered a disconnect between what congregational leaders think is happening with families and the lived experience of families. Congregational leaders often perceive the lack of church engagement from…

This article explores how pilgrimage shapes the ways in which Korean American youth and young adults develop their sense of intersectional identities by visiting their motherland. The coauthors begin by highlighting the limitation of Korean American churches' emphasis on text-based education, suggesting how pilgrimage as a spiritual practice could…

A growing number of new faith communities in North America are emerging as part of the Wild Church Network. These outdoor church expressions seek to re-acquaint, re-cover, and re-member their faith communities as loving participants of the larger community of Creation. This paper explores theological foundations and spiritual practices grounding…

The aim of this research was to get a better understanding of the work of school-based religious education leaders (SBREL) by examining the issues and challenges they face as well as how they are supported. SBREL were surveyed and interviewed, and they took part in focus groups. SBREL, in general, felt supported in their role. A major issue…

The political theology of Rev. John Witherspoon (1723-1794) had a profound impact on the development of ideas on religion and government during the Founding Period as a prominent educator, clergyman, and signatory of the Declaration of Independence. This paper uncovers the far-reaching impact of Witherspoon's political theology during America's…

Little is known about the effect of various social contexts on the development of belief for emerging adults. Specifically, college has been shown to both diminish and strengthen beliefs. I show that identifying as religious or non-religious is largely decoupled from beliefs and practices among emerging adults at a mainstream denominational…

Ancestors are storytellers. Buddhists consider that people will go to one of six realms after death. The six realms represent six worlds that consist of different mental states which correspond to one's wholesome and unwholesome karma. Buddhist ancestors have warned why life impelled by ignorance, hatred, and greed leads to undesirable rebirths,…