A Developmental Perspective On Childhood Religious Education

Abstract

Developmental religious education is an educational activity shaped within the framework of developments in the fields of psychology and educational sciences. In our study, developments and theories in the field of psychology and pedagogy in the historical process are presented through the leading figures in this field. Studies in these areas have been adapted to religious development and religious education. In this context, in our study, the methodology, principles and problems of religious education studies, which are based on the data of studies in psychology and educational sciences, were examined. As a method, our study first examined the basic views of the people who developed theories in general development, and then the religious development and religious education theories developed on the basis of these. Our study is based on literature and document review. The primary sources related to the subject were examined and their effects on religious education were evaluated together with different field studies. As a result, it has been seen that religious education should be considered together with developmental theories and should be programmed within the framework of scientific criteria. It is clear that such a religious education activity will have positive contributions in many aspects. However, it should be noted that limiting the subject of religious development and education to purely scientific criteria is faced with the problem of neglecting important components of religious education such as spirituality and holiness.