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Children, religion and the ethics of influence

Tillson, John (2015) Children, religion and the ethics of influence. PhD thesis, Dublin City University.

Abstract
This thesis investigates how (if at all) children ought to be influenced with respect to religion(s). To answer this question, I develop a theory of cognitive curriculum content and apply it to the teaching of religious beliefs and beliefs about religions. By ‘a theory of cognitive curriculum content,’ I mean a theory that determines which truth-claims belong on the curriculum, and whether or not teachers ought to promote students’ belief of those claims. I extend this theory to help educators to decide which attitudes address on the curriculum and whether or not to promote them. I then apply this to the case of religious attitudes and attitudes about religions. I argue that where having or failing to have a certain attitude makes a significant difference to students’ lives, it ought to be addressed by curricula. Where failing to have the attitude is irrational, this failure ought to be remedied; where having the attitude is irrational, that attitude ought to be discouraged; and where neither having nor failing to have the attitude is irrational, that attitude ought to be introduced and discussed without encouragement or discouragement. In so far as is practicable, educators should aim to acquaint students with arguments for and against having these attitudes and initiate them into the practice of assessing their soundness. The implications of this theory for extra-curricular influence, such as upbringing in the home, are also explored.
Metadata
Item Type:Thesis (PhD)
Date of Award:November 2015
Refereed:No
Supervisor(s):Byrne, Gareth and Leask, Ian
Subjects:Humanities > Philosophy
Humanities > Religions
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Science > School of Theology, Philosophy, & Music
Use License:This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. View License
ID Code:22608
Deposited On:30 Aug 2018 11:53 by Thomas Murtagh . Last Modified 30 Aug 2018 11:53
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