PERSPECTIVE ON CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Graham Rossiter

CONCERNS FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION  “despite the high level of resources invested in Catholic schools, they were not successful in inclining young Catholics to become regular church goers.”  It is recognised that Catholic schools need to offer an education in spirituality that is relevant to the lives of pupils- it needs to understand and acknowledge that the spiritual situation for many young people has changed  The spirituality of young people today is described as being more secular, eclectic, subjective, individualistic and self reliant.  There should be more focus on resourcing and enhancing the basic human spirituality of young children instead of preaching for students to become more regular church goes.

TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS SPIRITUALITY  Religion dominated the landscape  The authority of God, the spiritual/moral power of the church (religion) and the political power were usually amalgamated into a single network of cultural meanings  No clear alternatives to the dominant religion- other religious groups were treated as a minority  There was a strong feeling of tight control over peoples lives and spirituality

MOVING AWAY FROM A TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS SPIRITUALITY  DIY spirituality  There are many factors that have contributed to the secularization of spirituality: - movement of people into developing cities - separation of church (religion) and state - change away from the predominately religious subject matter of art - the rise of science, scientific thought and the enlightenment - interpretation of human behaviour through the human sciences - technology - consumerism

COMPARISON OF SPIRITUALITY'S Mother TeresaPrincess DianaJanis Joplin

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