Comment 1 Critical Thinking Examples

Religion has been a topic of debate for centuries. Religion is, in fact, one of the main arenas for wars, and it has been since the beginning of times. When one speaks about religion, it is not only about the spiritual sphere of the person that indeed is important and a holistic approach to education; this sphere has to be promoted for it to develop.
The spiritual sphere of the person relates, but it is not equivalent to religion. The reason why I am making this distinction is that, from a Christian perspective, the spiritual sphere of the person is based on religion. Religion, in particular, Christian denominations, provide ways of living. God, in the old testament, gives Moises the ten commandments, and then Jesus, also did the same (New International Version). Without these guidelines, a person trying to live in a spiritual way is only seeking himself, it can become a man-centered way of living, it is very altruistic. I say this because religion creates conflicts. It always did. It requires a decision; it requires people to stand on one side or another. It requires a moral way of living.
If the education system applies a simple program to develop the spiritual area of persons, it can damage the person as they can simply centre more on themselves and become more selfish. On the contrary, if they promote religions, and educate children according to religious laws, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, etc., can cause conflict in the education communities because it will also require teachers and all of the education community to live according to their beliefs. It means some will stand on one side, some on others. In the world we are living, most people do not live according to their religious beliefs. They live according to their goals, aims and benefits. If my marriage is not convenient anymore, I divorce, whether it is or not allowed by my religion.
What message will give to students, if their math teacher does not know mathematics? Not a good one. Students will lose their faith and respect in their teacher. On the same way, what would happen if teachers do not live according to what they are trying to teach to their students? I am not saying that I do not agree with the teaching of religion and encouraging students to have time to their education system to enrich their spirit and learn how to spend time with God. I am simply saying that an implementation of religion in the curriculum can create conflict within the education community.
Comment 1
Timothy 4:12 (New International Version), says "let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in a word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity". Timothy says something very important. He says that teachers have to be examples, and the particular way he proposes to give an example is in conversation (teaching verbally), in charity (and charity is love in action), that means in practice, in faith, that means practising the beliefs, and in purity. Purity can be understood as in right intention, doing things with rectitude and out of love.
I think it is key to education, especially Christian education, and for Christian education communities, that Christ is the model. Christians follow Christ. What did he do? He taught. He was the teacher. Luke 4:15 (New International Version) "and He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all". In a world like today where there are no models, no real models, no virtuous models, we need teachers to be models, to show Christ. We must not forget that Mark 6:34 (New International Version) says "When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd" and we ask, what did He do? "and He began to teach them many things".
Moreover, James says "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness". It is important that we consider these things. Teaching is a great profession; it is more than a profession. We teach with our lives. We teach with testimony, and there is nothing more powerful than that. The ultimate greatness of Christ is that He died for what he was teaching. Moreover, that is a Testimony in itself. If we are serious about education and our students, we should incarnate the teachings of the Christ in ourselves as teachers. We should not doubt that testimony and leading by example are the best education method. We can draw from it, that even in the other subjects, real based learning is also very efficient.