Concerning a Scientific Reflection upon Religious Education in Poland

Abstract

It is worth returning to the question of contemporary education process conditions; in particular to a scientific reflection on human upbringing and specifically to religious education. A discussion on conditions for religious education, the education contents and forms is basically outlined by sub-disciplines of pedagogy and theology which ex professo deal with the problem and thus a play a vital role in the discussion scope delineation. These scientific sub-disciplines are first and foremost: religious pedagogy and pedagogy of religion, Christian pedagogy with all its denominational variations as well as catechetics as a sub-discipline comprised within pastoral theology. Each and every sub-discipline has its own identity, yet their foundations and sources in pedagogical and theological sense are common. A particular attention should be applied to the development of religious pedagogy and pedagogy of religion. This sub-discipline is based upon what is typical both for the science of theology as well as pedagogy. For its research methodology the sub-discipline also makes use of methods typical for both sciences however it does not neglect empirical research methods. Thus this is a science operating at the verge of theology and pedagogy. Pedagogy of religion, although in its sources and scope of interest similar to catehetics does not attempt to do the job for the latter. A development of pedagogy of religion does not pose any threat upon catehetics; it rather indicates the need for the two sub-disciplined to work more closely when reflecting upon religious education.