Development and Religion: Theology and Practice - Literature review Example

Religion and Theology Task: According to diverse reports in the UK, the performance in religious education is dipping. Therefore, the education fraternity is struggling to explain the factors that have culminated in such performance. The fraternity also has to elaborate the measures it has to undertaken to solve this problem. This is a major concern since the fraternity has to ensure that the performances in this discipline are up to the level of the other subjects. Improvement of the performance will entail utilization of various strategies. The strategies should initially study the attitude of the student towards the subject. This will be vital since it will enable the education fraternity design a syllabus that suits their students. The education fraternity should consider various factors when developing a curriculum (OFSTED, 2012). The education fraternity should consider religious diversity. Additionally, the syllabus should also consider the changes in religious beliefs. There are certain aspects, which can enable the education system, improve performance in this subject. Implementation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) will give teachers of this subject a massive boost (Crackingre, 2012). The implementation of ICT will denote the education sector’s willingness to inculcate technology to improve performance. This will be a very vital development, which may transform the performance in religious studies. The current generation of students can easily relate to ICT. Therefore, the implementation will provide a new dimension in teaching of this subject. This paper will analyze diverse aspects of implementing digital theology in the education system (Saint Louis University, 2012). Digital theology primarily entails means to enhance theological studies. This will be exceedingly vital for the current education system, which seeks to improve performance in this discipline. Digital theology harnesses the power of multimedia to enhance research and teaching of religious disciplines. Therefore, digital theology will not only enhance teaching but also research. Research is a crucial aspect of education since it enables learners to learn more in relation to a discipline. Researcher can also assist the tutors to enrich their knowledge in this subject. Digital theology will utilize multimedia outlets such websites and blogs. These are multimedia channels largely utilized by the learners in school. Therefore, the implementation of this programme is timely. However, it is essential that the educationist evaluate certain aspects of digital theology (ELMO, 2012). These aspects include its relevance, impact on students, effect on the subject, effects on the tutor and its contribution towards the achievement of the core goals of education. These are the fundamental queries that the education sector should evaluate prior to its implementation. The educationist should ensure that the core objectives of education are accomplished. Therefore, its implementation should not be haphazard. Owing to the uncertainty, which may surround its implementation, the government should undertake a pilot study. The study would yield vital information, which would guide the implementation of digital theology. This pilot study should evaluate important aspects of the student pertaining to the subject. First, it should assess the student’s attitude towards the discipline and understanding. These are vital aspects, which contributes significantly to a student’s performance (Hill, Knitter & Madges, 1997). Digital tools are vital in learning. Such tools enhance learning in diverse ways, First, they allow use of images which enable learners retain the knowledge associated with the imagery. These tools also enable the explanation of complex situations, which learners may not comprehend easily. Moreover, they will enable the tutor to create an interactive environment during learning. An interactive environment enables the tutor to capture the concentration of students. This will enable students to use complex religious terminology in their appropriate context. This will result from exposure to religious knowledge that ICT tools will provide. ICT will expose students to massive knowledge. This will enrich students’ comprehension of this subject. Having an enriched understanding will enable such students make relevant arguments that pertain to religious studies. Having knowledge is vital, but the ability to make argument is more important. Therefore, the tutor should apply appropriate ICT tools that would enhance such skills (Neusner, 2009). Digital theology will expose the learners to various religious beliefs. This is crucial since it will enable the student learn the diverse beliefs which exist. Learning such beliefs will be vital in the creation of an accommodating attitude in the student. Such an attitude would enable the student appreciate and acknowledge the existence of multiple religious beliefs. Religious studies do not only encompass the study of one religion. However, it entails the study of multiple religions. This discipline entails learning the faith, values and beliefs of the diverse religions (Trucano, 2005). This enriches students’ religious knowledge. The diverse knowledge will empower students to make philosophical arguments from various religious perspectives. Digital theology coupled with the utilization of appropriate tools will enable the student to access massive databases of religious information. Additionally, research may also enable the student to access such information. This massive information will permit students make comparisons of the changes in beliefs overtime. Absence of digital theology would limit access to religious information. As such, the learners have no capability to make evaluation of religious changes. This is an important aspect of religious studies where the learner analyzes the trends in religion and among the faithful (Vyhmeister, 1981). Another important perspective of religious studies is the congregation in a religion. Implementation of digital theology will enable students to learn the congregation. The congregation or faithful denotes the society. Some of the trends in the society results from religious teachings. The values that a religion propagates have massive implications on the society. As such, the conservative nature of the Islamic religion has culminated in a relatively conservative culture. A student would require access to digital theology to research on such matters. Additionally, the student should utilize relevant ICT tools. Analysing the impact of religion on society would also entail individuals studying conflicts that have resulted from religious disparity. There are countless conflicts, which have emanated from religious differences in society. A research on this would lead a student into studying religious extremism, which is a common phenomenon. Implementation of digital theology will be vital in enabling students tackle various aspects of religious studies. These aspects include understanding spiritual and moral expression. Digital theology and ICT tools will facilitate research. This will be extremely crucial since the tutor cannot provide the student with all the required information. Therefore, enabling students to research will increase the student’s capacity to learn and tackle most issue, which pertain to this discipline (Bednarowski, 1989). Implementation of digital theology will enable the student to become an active partaker in the religious studies. This is because the implementation of digital theology will permit students to learn independently. As such, students become active partakers of the learning process. Prior to the implementation of digital theology, the only source of information was the tutor. Listening to the tutor made most students passive partakers of the learning process since lectures culminate in boredom. However, conducting research has several vital effects on learners. First, they create motivation among students since they can access relevant information independently. Students can also read to satisfy their individual interests. The implementation of digital theology will transform learning in this discipline massively. It will enable students undertake countless academic tasks which they could not undertake previously (Tucker, 2000). Religion is vital in a society. It describes the values, which a society seeks to propagate. Consequently, religion contributes significantly to the identity of people globally. Consequently, religion is more than the values, beliefs it propagates since it gives people a sense of belonging, and it is a central pillar of the society. Therefore, studying religious studies will equip students with diverse knowledge. This knowledge will enable students understand and appreciate human relationship and commitment. Religion elaborates the path, which its follower should embrace. To undertake such a path in life’ one has to adhere to certain values. These values pertain to the diverse aspects of life such as relationships. Christianity does not permit polygamy. Therefore, studying Christianity would enable an individual understand various aspects of Christian relationships. Contrary, Islamic religion permits polygamy. Therefore, studying Islam would also enable one understand the diverse aspects of relationships among Muslims which can also entail divorce. However, studying religious studies to such an extent would require an individual to have access to information. Information of such nature can be availed through digital theology. However, the student would require the necessary tools to access it. Therefore, implementation of digital theology will transform religious studies (Boer, 2009). In view of the above details, digital theology will transform religious studies. This is because it will enable access to massive information, which is relevant to the discipline. Access to such information will equip the student with all the details required to make a solid argument in this discipline. However, an individual requires certain ICT tools. These tools enable an individual to access information easily. These tools include applications, cameras, tablet, projectors and displays. However, prior to the implementation of the digital theology the education sector should undertake relevant studies. These studies will assess the relevance of the implementation to students of this age (Clarke, 2011). . References  Bednarowski, M. (1989) . New Religions and the Theological Imagination in America. USA: American University press. Boer, R. (2009). Criticism of Religion: On Marxism and Theology, II, Volume 2. Massachusetts, MA: Nijhoff Publishers. Clarke, M. (2011). Development and Religion: Theology and Practice.UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Crackingre. (2012). The effective use of ICT in RE. Retrieved on July 25, 2012 from http://www.crackingre.co.uk/htdocs/crackingre/secure/teachSupp/ict.html ELMO. (2012). ICT in education. Retrieved on July 25, 2012 from http://www.elmoglobal.com/en/html/ict/01.aspx Hill, B., Knitter, P. & Madges, W. (1997). Faith, Religion & Theology: A Contemporary Introduction. Connecticut, CN: Twenty Third Publication. Neusner, J. (2009). Neusner on Judaism: Religion & theology. USA: Atheneum Press Ltd. OFSTED. (2012). Religious education. Retrieved on July 25, 2012 from http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/our-expert-knowledge/religious-education Saint Louis University. (2012). Center for Digital Theology. Retrieved on July 25, 2012 from http://www.slu.edu/department-of-theology-home/center-for-digital-theology Trucano, M. (2005). Use of specific ICT tools in education. Retrieved on July 25, 2012 from http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.162.html Tucker, D. (2000). Research Techniques for Scholars and Students in Religion and Theology. New Jersey: Information Today Inc. Vyhmeister, N. (1981). Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology. Michigan: Nancy Jean Vyhmeister. Read More