 Graham Rossiter (2010) Perspective on contemporary spirituality: implications for religious education in Catholic schools.

Challenges Facing Religious Education in Australian Catholic Schools  We need to accept and address that a only a minority of our students will ever become engaged in Catholic Parishes.  Religious education is seen as a tool to significantly change young peoples spirituality.  The landscape of spirituality has changed so much that a traditional religious education linked with religious spirituality is no longer adequate (Rossiter, 2010).

Cultural Meanings  Socially constructed ideas, values, assumptions and emotions that inform peoples thinking and behaviour (Rossiter, 2010, p.131)  Rossiter (2010) suggests that identifying cultural meanings and showing how they changed is a great tool for interpreting change in spirituality (p.135)  Cultural meanings provide a frame of reference for people to work out their own personal meaning. They can reflect on who they are and assess which ones they adopt.

Change to Cultural Meanings Cultural Meanings Individuals own frame of reference Frame of reference changes over time Personal growth of the individual Dissatisfaction with existing subscribed meanings Resister (2010) suggests two main reasons for change to cultural meanings The emergence and dissemination of new cultural meanings Individuals change the cultural meanings that they subscribe to, this can be a very gradual process

Sociological Constructs for interpreting change to spirituality  Secularisation: Decline in the prominence of religion in personal, social and political life  Privatisation of Religion: Religious beliefs are now often seen as a private matter

Traditional Spirituality  The authority of God, the spiritual/moral power of the church and the political power were usually amalgamated into a single network of cultural religious meanings (Rossiter, 2010).  Rossiter (2010) cites change from traditional religious spirituality was particularly evident in the following areas:  Understanding of God and the creators role in the universe.  Less fear of religious authorities  Decline in religious ritual and references in social life

Change from Traditional Spirituality  The following factors contributed to the secularisation of spirituality in Europe since the middle ages:  Movement of people into developing cities  Separation of church and state  Less religious art was produced  The rise of science  Education  Technologies for the communication of cultural meanings

My School Context  Brisbane Archdiocese launched new syllabus in  As a school we have a heavy push to social justice programs such as;  Street Retreat  Regular Fundraising  Rosies and Aged Care visits

Brisbane Religious Education

Conclusion  The aim of the article was to “develop an interpretation that will be more congruent in persuading catholic education authorities and religion teachers to see the need for a different pattern of emphasis in religious education” (Rossiter, 2010).  In my context our social justice initiatives allows students “to learn how to identify, interpret and evaluate contemporary spiritual/moral issues” (Rossiter, p.130), which I feel need to become a more prominent part of religious education programs in my school.

References  Boys, M.C. (1997).The grace of teaching. Conference, 14(1),  Brisbane Catholic Education, (2013). Religious Education. Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Brisbane.  Catholic Schools at the Crossroads. Retrieved from schools-at-a-crossroads.pdf  McCarthy, M. (2000). Spirituality in a postmodern era. In J. Woodward & S. Pattison (Eds.). The Blackwell reader in pastoral and practical theology. (pp. 192 – 206). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.  Ranson, D. (2002). Across the Great Divide Bridging Spirituality and Religion Today. Strathfield: St Pauls Publications. (pp )  Rolheiser, R. (1998). Seeking spirituality: Guidelines for Christian spirituality for the 21 st Century. London, UK: Hodder and Stockton.  Rossiter, G. (2010). Perspective on contemporary spirituality: implications for religious education in Catholic schools. International Studies in Catholic Education, 2(2),  Schneiders, S. (2003). Religion vs. spirituality: A contemporary conundrum. Spiritus, 3(2),