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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. COMPARISON OF SPIRITUALITY'S Mother TeresaPrincess DianaJanis Joplin

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