Religious Education at a Crossroads: Moving on in the Freedom of the Spirit

Francoise Darcy-Berube has done catechists and religious educators a great favor by writing this book! As she explains, getting people to go to church is not the main objective of religious education. A deep and holistic approach is necessary which develops an authentic religious and theological literacy on which to build a mature faith.Berube begins her book by sharing a concern that was also a major problem for me. When the Catechism of the Catholic Church was published, I refused to have a copy in my religious education classroom for two years because of my own fear of how people would misuse the document. Berube felt likewise! Faith is not primarily a cognitive exercise where the adherent memorizes the right answers. Yet, there are those who desire that religious education return to that "catechism" model with its exact question-and-answer pattern. As Berube says, religious education truly IS at a crossroads. Will we continue to better our approaches as we stay on the holistic path we have chosen since Vatican II, or will we turn back in fear and return to the "good old days" which may have been adequate for a time? Read the book and make your own choice. I suspect you'll find Berube's argument quite convincing. In short, we cannot turn back and lose what we have gained. And if you are one of those in religious education who are fighting "the good fight" to remain on this progressive path, you need this insightful little book in your arsenal.