Abstract

Annotation Hermans (professor of identity of Catholic schools and religious education, Catholic U. of Nijmegen, the Netherlands) analyzes religious education in the context of globalization as a cultural phenomenon--a phenomenon characterized by processes of rationalization, fragmentation, and transformation. He explores the changing nature of tradition in terms of Christian concepts of transcendence and immanence as it relates to education. After attempting to define the characteristics of religion as experience, language, and practice, he proposes a concept of religious instruction based on "participation." Participatory learning is defined as developmental, social, mediated, and meaningful learning. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).