By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
The specific Christian dimension of education, based on the incarnated Word of God within diverse cultures through inter-disciplinarian dialogue, leads to teaching-learning principles, to participative, interpretive and narrative styles including modern educational tools.
The present paper affirms the integral relationship between Christian principles and education, where Christian education is the locus for dialogue of diverse religions with education, and highlights the significance of a developed system of education with some orientations.
It has been an arrival with certain scopes as well as a departure with some orientated methods for Indian Christian education. Christian education, as the unitary process of human-Christian maturation through integral freedom based on faith and reason, – Jesus’ educative vision – comprises of the individual as well as the community, where the family is the nucleus foundation of education, and the school is a community committed to the integral progress of all by drawing together the inter-religious human resources, government aid, participatory administration, improved evaluation system and other innovative strategies.
Considering the concrete context, this ecclesial educational praxis, through interdisciplinary approaches can lead to trans-disciplinary advaitic knowledge. Christian education, linked with dialogue and liberation within the multicultural and pluri-religious context for realizing an ideal educational system within the local church, will enhance a better educational culture in view of God’s Kingdom.
The whole approach is one of inculturation and inter-culturation, contextualising pastoral educational activities thus bridging the gap between life and faith, by considering other faiths as embodiment of an approach to God by human beings. Emphasis has been given to the complete manifestation of the divine spark inherent in every human, irrespective of all differences, in and through an educative process rooted in Christ through an integral, formal and informal education through teacher-student interaction, for an impact on the whole Indian educational system where motivation, mentality and personality development will be the primary tasks.
The Christian commitment to dialogue and the value of inter-cultural understanding have been the foremost methodological presupposition in working out an Indian Christian education system. The moral and spiritual reflection for the development of ethical, spiritual and pastoral educational praxis, can further be strengthened.
Since knowledge and experiences are always limited, there is the fundamental difficulty of measuring the impact of Christian thought on education and vice versa. Often the bureaucratic requirements harness the absence of a committed Christian teaching-learning experience. Unhealthy rivalry and comparisons affect the reliability of a value-based Christian education in the midst of engulfing globalised economic values.
The findings and proposals here certainly point to a new trend that needs to set in, but needs to be studied at greater depth, verified and nurtured. It offers some insights regarding the dynamics of teaching-learning experience in the field of education, in a systematic way.
Yet we need: to go deep into the root of Indian cultures, to the Christian educational fidelity and to the evangelising pastoral thrust; to set priorities following the principle of fitness for purpose through democratic partnership and involvement. We still need a proactive, individual and collective interventions to make ‘People of God’ context-sensitive by promoting dialogue between faith and culture, overcoming dichotomy and make faith as the keystone of educational culture. To this end, there has to be a flexible educational process, with the centrality of the persons; single goal oriented educational plan with clear objectives and strategies; integral formation of the educators and a participative methodology.
An evangelisation through integral education based on a theological foundation is difficult to achieve fully within a secularised society where the globalised ‘market force’ has its repercussion on the provision of just and equal educational opportunities for all.
As per the Catholic education policy empowering the marginalised by contextualising the educational mission through the integration of knowledge-character and science-humanity is still to be realised. This is possible only through a renewal of humanity through explicit witness, inner adherence and involvement in the community (EN 24, 17) with a double fidelity to dynamism and to Christ.
Christian education must address the inculturising dimension of Christian life, gathering all as People of God, through a legitimate use of the rich yet diverse cultural and religious experiences. The principle of “inclusive pluralism”, would invite all to the universal Kingdom of God (RM 8), sharing in the divine life of the Trinity through the on-going action of the Holy Spirit that operates beyond the visible Church and enriches the world’s cultures and religions that contain elements of truth and goodness (NA 2).
If so, Christian education plays a crucial role in the convergence of all cultures and religions towards the One Kingdom of God. In the words of Rabindranath Tagore, we therefore cry aloud, “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free;[…]Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way […] Into ever-widening thought and action; Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”
Concludes.
Fr. Soroj Mullick, SDB is a Salesian priest from the Kolkata Province. He has a Licentiate in Catechetics and a Doctorate (Christian Education) from UPS, Italy. He has number of years of teaching experience in college and in the formation of future priests. Besides, he has written number of research papers and articles, and has 25 years of Ministry in India and abroad as Educator, Formator, Retreat Preacher, Editor and engaged in School, Parish Catechetical & Youth Ministry. He is now an assistant priest in Bandel Basilica, rendering pastoral and catechetical ministry to the parishioners and to the pilgrims. He can be contacted at [email protected].