Sweetman, Bernadette and O'Farrell, Cora
ORCID: 0000-0002-4130-4364
(2024)
From acting as a crutch to activating as a catalyst: a spectrum of responses from Irish adults regarding religious education and faith development in COVID times.
British Journal of Religious Education, 46
(3).
pp. 287-296.
ISSN 0141-6200
Abstract
The Adult Religious Education and Faith Development project (AREFD)
was launched in 2018 at the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education, DCU. As part of the study, the research team consulted variety of people
involved in AREFD across a range of contexts. The purpose of these
consultations was to harness their ‘lived wisdom’, showcasing the wide
variety of opportunities for engagement in and identifying possible new
approaches to AREFD. When COVID-19 struck, the research team availed of the opportunity to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the religious education and faith development of this particular cohort of Irish adults. Thematically analysed, the data showed a spectrum of responses. The pandemic prompted deep reflection and a re-evaluation of the importance of religion and faith in their lives. Ranging from gaining comfort and solace from their faith to being moved to acts of compassion and altruism based on their religious beliefs, the impact of the pandemic on the faith lives of these Irish adults was diverse. This paper provides an account of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the faith lives of some Irish adults, prompting reflection on how this impact might shape the future of AREFD in Ireland.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article (Published) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Adult education; faith development; Ireland; COVID-19 |
| Subjects: | Humanities > Religions Social Sciences > Adult education Social Sciences > Education Social Sciences > Teaching |
| DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of Human Development |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
| Official URL: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01416... |
| Copyright Information: | Authors |
| ID Code: | 32519 |
| Deposited On: | 27 Apr 2026 13:23 by Cora O'farrell . Last Modified 27 Apr 2026 13:23 |
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