PDF Foundational Issues in Christian Education

Foundational Issues in

Christian Education

An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective

Third Edition

Robert W. Pazmi?o

K

Robert W. Pazmi?o, Foundational Issues in Christian Education, 3rd ed.: An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective,

Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, ? 2008. Used by permission.

? 2008 by Robert W. Pazmi?o

Published by Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means--for example, electronic, photocopy, recording--without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pazmi?o, Robert W., 1948?

Foundational issues in Christian education : an introduction in evangelical perspective /

Robert W. Pazmi?o.--3rd ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN 978-0-8010-3593-7 (pbk.)

1. Christian education. I. Title.

BV1471.2.P39 2008

268--dc22

2008003935

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION?. NIV?. Copyright ? 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ? 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Robert W. Pazmi?o, Foundational Issues in Christian Education, 3rd ed.: An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective,

Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, ? 2008. Used by permission.

Contents

Introduction 9

1. Biblical Foundations 19

The Old Testament 20 The New Testament 34 An Integrated Model 46 Conclusion 53 Points to Ponder 55

2. Theological Foundations 57

Four Distinctive Theological Elements 57 An Orthodox Foundation 69 A Reforming View of Education 72 Insights from Paulo Freire 77 Points to Ponder 82

3. Philosophical Foundations 85

General Definitions 85 Philosophical Questions 92 Modern Philosophies of Education 117 The Choice of Philosophies 124 A Tale of Five Cities in Global Perspective 126 Points to Ponder 128

4. Historical Foundations 129

History and Historical Method 129 History and Education 131 History and Christian Education 133 The Old Testament 136 The Greek Heritage 138 The New Testament 140

7

Robert W. Pazmi?o, Foundational Issues in Christian Education, 3rd ed.: An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective,

Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, ? 2008. Used by permission.

8

Early Christianity 142 The Middle Ages 144 The Renaissance 148 The Reformation 149 The United States 153 Postwar Evangelical Educators 158 Continuity and Reaffirmation 164 Points to Ponder 165

5. Sociological Foundations 167

The Social Construction of Reality: Culture 168 Contextualization and Decontextualization in Culture 174 The Sociology of Knowledge 176 The Sociology of Education 183 One Model for Sociological Inquiry 190 Points to Ponder 193

6. Psychological Foundations 195

Four Approaches to Integration 196 Questions of Developmental Psychology 199 Cognitive Development: Jean Piaget 204 Psychosocial Development: Erik Erikson 206 Moral Development: Lawrence Kohlberg 208 Faith Development: James Fowler 213 Neurological and Educational Research 220 Developmental Presumptions 221 An Interactive Christian Model 224 Points to Ponder 228

7. Curricular Foundations 231

Basic Questions 234 Proposed Metaphors for Curriculum 238 The Place of Values in the Explicit Curriculum 243 The Hidden Curriculum 244 The Null Curriculum 247 A Larger Vision 248 Points to Ponder 251

Appendix A: Singing the Lord's Song in a Foreign Land-- Proclaiming Truth in a Postmodern Setting 253

Appendix B: Crossing over to Postmodernity-- Educational Invitations 263

Postscript 275 Select Bibliography 279 Scripture Index 285 General Index 289

Contents

Robert W. Pazmi?o, Foundational Issues in Christian Education, 3rd ed.: An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective,

Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, ? 2008. Used by permission.

Introduction

In commenting on the future of Christianity in 1995, the theologian Alister McGrath saw the potential for evangelical Christians to make a contribution. This continuing contribution relates to the viability of orthodoxy and the need to teach a living faith for the postmodern world.1 For this to be possible, Christians are called to be faithful in the theory and practice of Christian education to assure the transmission of a living faith to the rising generations. In support of this task, Christian educators are called upon to reappraise their thought and practice in relation to the foundational issues of Christian education. These foundational issues represent perennial or recurrent questions for those involved in the teaching ministries of the church. They deserve careful consideration by those who reflect upon their ministries of the past, present, and future.

This book in its third edition explores the disciplines used to form a holistic and integrated conception of Christian education from which guiding principles and guidelines for practice can be drawn. Christian educators who are evangelical in theological orientation need to make a concerted effort to affirm the biblical insights that provide the essential authority for theory and practice.2 Christians also need to incorporate insights from other disciplines.

1.Alister McGrath, Evangelicalism and the Future of Christianity (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1995); for a discussion of the postmodern setting, see the two appendixes of this work.

2.Evangelical educators have made major contributions in this area. See the following works as examples: Michael J. Anthony, ed., Foundations of Ministry: An Introduction to Christian Education for a New Generation (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1992); Perry G. Downs, Teaching for Spiritual Growth: An Introduction to Christian Education (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994); Ronald Habermas and Klaus Issler, Teaching for Reconciliation: Foundations and Practice of

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Robert W. Pazmi?o, Foundational Issues in Christian Education, 3rd ed.: An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective,

Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, ? 2008. Used by permission.

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