Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education
The contemporary quest for spirituality (or spiritual ‘connection’) in formal education can be linked to the question what education is for. The present article is concerned with contributing to a reformational approach to the question of the purpose of education, with specific reference to spiritua...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2016-11-01
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| Series: | In die Skriflig |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2123 |
| _version_ | 1818139620245766144 |
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| author | Esmari Potgieter |
| author_facet | Esmari Potgieter |
| author_sort | Esmari Potgieter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The contemporary quest for spirituality (or spiritual ‘connection’) in formal education can be linked to the question what education is for. The present article is concerned with contributing to a reformational approach to the question of the purpose of education, with specific reference to spirituality. From a reformational perspective, spirituality should be understood within the framework of the relation between God and his creation. In this article I turn to the thought of Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), a philosopher-theologian who was convinced that the world exists to communicate the glory of God. This conception of the relation between God and creation gave rise to three recurrent themes in Edwards’ philosophy which, I will argue, may be conducive to a reformational understanding of the purpose of education. These themes may provide us with ways of conceptualising various types of spiritual ‘connection’ in school education. The three philosophical themes are: knowledge as the true perception of relations; human beings as creation’s consciousness; and sound morality as arising from true perception. Provided that certain weak points (from a reformational philosophical point of view) are adjusted, these themes can be fruitfully applied to the question of the purpose of education. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:30:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c8c811490d34224a971899179580f7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1018-6441 2305-0853 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:30:59Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | In die Skriflig |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c8c811490d34224a971899179580f7f2022-12-22T01:10:55ZafrAOSISIn die Skriflig1018-64412305-08532016-11-01501e1e910.4102/ids.v50i1.21232091Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of educationEsmari Potgieter0School for Philosophy, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThe contemporary quest for spirituality (or spiritual ‘connection’) in formal education can be linked to the question what education is for. The present article is concerned with contributing to a reformational approach to the question of the purpose of education, with specific reference to spirituality. From a reformational perspective, spirituality should be understood within the framework of the relation between God and his creation. In this article I turn to the thought of Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), a philosopher-theologian who was convinced that the world exists to communicate the glory of God. This conception of the relation between God and creation gave rise to three recurrent themes in Edwards’ philosophy which, I will argue, may be conducive to a reformational understanding of the purpose of education. These themes may provide us with ways of conceptualising various types of spiritual ‘connection’ in school education. The three philosophical themes are: knowledge as the true perception of relations; human beings as creation’s consciousness; and sound morality as arising from true perception. Provided that certain weak points (from a reformational philosophical point of view) are adjusted, these themes can be fruitfully applied to the question of the purpose of education.https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2123Jonathan EdwardsPurpose of EducationChristian EducationSpiritualityReformational Philosophy |
| spellingShingle | Esmari Potgieter Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education In die Skriflig Jonathan Edwards Purpose of Education Christian Education Spirituality Reformational Philosophy |
| title | Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education |
| title_full | Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education |
| title_fullStr | Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education |
| title_short | Jonathan Edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education |
| title_sort | jonathan edwards and a reformational view of the purpose of education |
| topic | Jonathan Edwards Purpose of Education Christian Education Spirituality Reformational Philosophy |
| url | https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2123 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT esmaripotgieter jonathanedwardsandareformationalviewofthepurposeofeducation |